^n^^ 


REPORT^. 


"^ 


I^ITED  GERMAN 


^tTHuuditfil  ^«%j^»«  €^jjtfit^jatiait$ 


IN 


NORTH  AMERICA, 


SDPECiJ^XiXi"^'  in^  '^:EiisrisT^irxj^^ji^isTT.ji^; 


9H  OF  rnncs 


WITH  PREFACE 


NOV  4   1937 


.\^ 


<^OGiCALSt^ 


Dr.  John  Ludwig  Schulze, 

PROFESSOR  OF  THEOLOGY,  ETC.,  ETC,  AT  HALLE. 


EV 


1^ 


RCH, 


rWILAOl 


READING,  PA.: 

PILGER  BOOK-STORE. 


Copyright,  1882,  hy  A.  Bendel 


HALLE  REPORTS, 


NEW  EDITION, 

WITH    EXTENSIVE 

HISTORICAL,  CRITICAL  AND  LITERARY  ANNOTATIONS, 

AND 

NUMEROUS  DOCUMENTS, 

COPIED  FROM  THE  MANUSCRIPTS  IN  THE  ARCHIVES  OF  THE  FRANCKE  INSTITUTIONS  AT  HALLE. 


REV.  W.  J.  MANN,  D.D., 

Paster  of  St.  IliehaeVs  and  Zions  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregation  at  PJiihalelphia, 

Pa.,  and  German  Professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary 

of  the  Lutheran  Church  ; 

AND 

REV,  B.  M.  SCHMUCKER,  D.D., 

Pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Transfiguration  at  Pottstoum,  Pa. 

ASSISTED    BY 

REV.  W.  GERMANN,  D.D., 

KLrclienrath   of  the  Duchy  of  Sachsen-Meiningen ;   Pastor   of  the  Church  at  2'ordheim; 

Editor  of  the  '■'■Halle  Missionary  Reports ^  Author  of  the  Biographies  of 

the  Rev.  Ilissionarics  J.  Ph.  Fabricus,  Ziegenhalg,  Pluetschati, 

Chr.  Fr.  Schwarz,  and  of  ''The  Chttrch  of  the 

St.  Thomas  Christians." 


TRANSLATED    FROM    THE   GERMAN,    BY 

REV.  C.  W.  SCHAEFFER,  D.D., 

Burckhalter  Professor  in  the   Theological   Seminary  of  the   Lutheran  Church,  Philadel- 
phia; Author  of  ''The  Early  History  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America.'' 


NOTE  BY  THE  TRANSLATOR. 


The  aim  of  the  translator  has  been  to  adhere  faithfully  to  the  origi- 
nal, and  yet  to  present  its  statements  in  plain  English.  Variations 
may  be  observed,  here  and  there,  in  the  orthography  of  certain  proper 
names ;  these  may  be  attributed  to  the  nature  of  the  case,  and  involve 
a  matter  which  is  not  fully  settled  yet.  The  numbers  on  the  margin 
of  the  original  Eeport  and  the  several  Continuations  indicate  the 
pages  of  the  first  German  edition,  published  at  Halle  in  1787.  The 
titles  of  German  works,  often  referred  to  in  the  Notes  and  Appendices, 
are  given  in  the  original  German,  for  the  reason  that  these  works,  gen- 
erally, do  not  exist  in  the  English  language. 

The  light  thrown  upon  the  whole  subject  by  Rev.  Dr.  Mann  in  his 
Kotes  and  Appendices,  as  found  in  the  new  edition,  has  an  extraordi- 
nary value  of  its  own,  and  will  enable  the  reader  to  discover,  in  the 
original  Reports,  an  interest  and  a  rare  value  which  he  might  other- 
wise be  slow  to  detect. 

C.   W.   SCHAEFFER,   D.D. 

Philadelphia,  June,  1882. 


en.  iTutl).  ^'t.  M\A)aeV5  Cljurd),  Corner  of  Jiftl)  nnH  Cljcrrp  ^trecta, 
pijUaDflpljia,  Pa.,  51.  jD.  1743. 


en.  jCutl).  3ion  eijurd),  Corner  of  lourtlj  oni>  Cljrrro  <S'treet5, 
pi)Uabdpt)ia,  pa.,  ^.  JD.  1766. 


PREFACE 


Kind  Reader: 

^T  is  well  known  that  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  congrega- 
^  tions  in  America  have  become  quite  numerous  and  strong,  since 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century.^  Their  temporal  wants,  'tis  true, 
were  generally  supplied ;  but  those  Germans  who  did  not  forsake  their 
religion  upon  leaving  their  native  land,  soon  discovered,  that  it  Avas  a 
great  disadvantage  to  them  and  to  their  children,  that  there  was,  in 
most  places,  a  total  lack  of  Christian  pastors,  or  that  the  care  of  souls 
had  to  be  committed  to  the  charge  of  persons  Avho,  without  a  regular 
call  and  ordination,  had  obtruded  themselves  into  the  office  of  Chris- 
tian teacher,  and  that,  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  living. 
These  circumstances  constrained  many  of  the  Germans  earnestly  to 
implore  of  their  friends  in  Europe,  that  they  would  send  them  teach- 
ers, men  who  Avould  take  to  heart  the  work  of  recovering  lost  shee23 
and  leading  them  in  the  way  of  salvation.  As  these  petitions  reached 
us  and  many  other  places  ^  already  in  the  year  1733,  the  history  of  the 
pastors  who  w^ere  sent  from  Germany  to  America  may,  in  fact,  be  re- 
garded as  having  begun  more  than  fifty  years  ago.  It  is  not  my  ob- 
ject now,  hoAvever,  to  record  that  history  from  the  beginning  doAvn  to 
the  present  time.  It  Avill  be  found  complete  in  the  first  volume,^  that 
closes  Avith  the  sixteenth  continuation  and  begins  Avith  the  year  1742. 
It  was  in  this  year  that  Dr.  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg,*  Avho  yet 
lives  and  is  at  this  time  the  venerable  Senior  of  the  German  Evangeli- 
cal Ministerium  of  North  America,  the  first  regularly  called  and  or- 
dained pastor  sent  out  by  us,  happily  arriA^ed  in  Philadelphia,  and  Av^as 
greeted,  by  many,  AA^th  a  hearty  Avelcome. 

This  first  pastor  Avho,  from  the  very  beginning  of  his  labors  till  his 
advanced  years,  adorned  as  they  are  with  glory  and  Avith  honor,  dis- 
played such  an  extraordinary  activity,  was  folloAA^ed  by  diA^ers  assistant 
pastors,  Avhom  Ave  sent  out  from  time  to  time  as  the  extension  of  the 
work  and  the  necessities  of  the  congregations  demanded.  To  mention 
their  several  names  in  this  place  would  be  too  difl^use,  and,  indeed,  it  is 
not  necessary  because  everything  important  connected  with  their  com- 
mission by  us,  AA^th  their  arrival  in  America  and  their  pastoral  labors 
there,  is  sufficiently  presented  in  due  order,  in  the  several  portions  of 


2  PREFACE. 

this  volume.  Some  of  tliem  entered  into  their  rest,  long  ago ;  as  the 
pastors  B'runnholz,  Handschuh,  Schaum  and  Heinzelmann  ;  but 
their  memory  is  blessed  until  this  day.  The  other  old  pastors,  whom, 
as  far  as  we  know,  the  Lord  still  sustains  in  life,  and  who,  for  the  most 
part  have  been  laboring  faithfully  for  more  than  twenty  years  already, 
as  the  pastors  Voigt,  Krug,  C.  G.  Schulze,  Helmuth  and  Schmidt, 
to  whom  we  have  to  add  pastor  Kunze,  since  the  year  1770,  are  often 
mentioned,  and  with  deserved  honor,  in  the  several  continuations.  A 
blessing  must  ever  abide  upon  their  names,  because  they  displayed 
such  a  noble  zeal  in  following  the  example  of  their  worthy  Senior, 
and  discharged  their  official  duties  with  all  fidelity.  Of  all  this  we 
have  most  gratifying  testimony  from  men  of  acknowledged  learning 
and  worth,  who  have  themselves,  for  years,  been  the  occupants  of  high 
official  positions.     To  this  fact  we  propose  to  refer  hereafter. 

The  number  of  pastors  already  spoken  of  as  being  called  and  sent 
out  by  us,  may  possibly  seem  to  be  somewhat  large ;  but  for  the  ne- 
cessities of  the  congregations  in  America,  scattered  as  they  are  here 
and  there,  very  few  of  them  being  strong  enough  to  support,  each,  its 
own  pastor,  even  that  number  has  been  found  to  be  insufficient.  It 
has  repeatedly  happened,  and  sometimes  indeed,  when  we  could  not, 
at  once,  extend  the  desired  help,  that  faithful  pastors  were  earnestly 
sought  for,  after  the  people  had  learnt,  by  sad  experience,  what  a 
great  difference  there  was  between  such  pastors  and  men  who,  without 
being  called  and  trained  for  the  pastoral  work,  boldly  thrust  them- 
selves into  the  office.  From  the  very  beginning  of  this  century,  and 
even  until  the  present  day,  it  has  been  the  misfortune  of  Pennsylvania, 
that  many  men  Avho  had  never  studied  at  all,  or  Avho  had  never  had 
any  thorough  instruction  in  Christianity  and  science,  or  who,  even 
having  once  occupied  the  pastoral  office  in  Germany,  were  deposed 
and  thrust  out  for  their  bad  conduct,  resorted  to  that  fine  country, 
and  by  flattering  speeches  and  insinuating  ways  imposed  upon  private 
persons  and  even  whole  congregations,  and  so  stole  into  the  office  of 
pastor.  It  is  easy  to  see  what  a  miserable  service  must  be  rendered 
to  souls  by  men  who  seek  only  their  own  profit,  and  who,  as  soon  as 
greater  gains  invite  them  elsewhere,  at  once  forsake  the  congregation 
they  had  professed  to  serve. 

Such  hirelings  as  these  have  spread  great  disorder  in  several  congre- 
gations, until  at  last  these  churches  themselves  have  expressed  the  ar- 
dent wish  to  be  supplied  with  pastors  properly  trained  and  tried  and 
worthy  of  confidence.  As  it  is  not  possible  always,  at  once,  to  find 
men  suited  to  meet  such  demand,  great  relief  has  arisen  from  the  fact 


PREFACE. 


that  the  pastors  in  America  have,  at  times,  taken  under  their  instruc- 
tion young  men  of  good  character  and  of  fair  promise,  and  then,  after 
several  years  of  such  training,  having  first  submitted  them  to  a  regular 
examination  by  the  Synod,  have,  for  a  specified  time,  placed  them  in 
charge  of  such  congregations  as  required  their  services.  Whenever 
these  men  have  been  found,  upon  trial,  to  be  competent  to  occupy  the 
positions  assigned  to  them,  they  have  been  entrusted  with  the  full 
charge  of  their  congregations,  as  regular  pastors.  In  this  way,  the 
number  of  regularly  ordained  Evangelical  Lutheran  ministers  in 
America  has  been  considerably  increased. 

I  have  now  before  me  a  copy  of  the  "  Kirchen-Agende,"  published 
in  Philadelphia  last  year,  in  which  are  recorded  the  names  of  those 
who,  at  that  time,  were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod. 
It  may  be  useful  if  I  present  them  here.  In  number  they  amount  to 
twenty-four,  and  are  as  follows,  viz.:  Henry  Melchior  Muhlen- 
berg, D.D.  and  Senior  of  the  Ministerium,  Nicolas  Kurz,  Sr., 
William  Kurz,  Jr.,  Ludwig  Voigt,  John  A.  Krug,  Christopher 
J.  ScHULZE,  George  Eager,  Just.  Chr.  Henry  Helmuth,  D.D., 
John  F.  Schmidt,  John  C.  Kunze,  D.D.,  M.  Henry  Muhlen- 
berg, Carl  F.  Wildbahn,  Jacob  V.  Buszkirk,  John  Friderici, 
Christian  Streit,  John  G.  Jung,  Conrad  Roeller,  Jacob  Goe- 
RiNG,  Daniel  Schroeter,  Daniel  Lehmann,  Henry  Moeller, 
Frederick  Ernst,  Frederick  Val.  Melszheimer  and  Daniel 
Kurz. 

Last  year  already  John  Fr.  Weinland  was  added  to  the  forego- 
ing, of  whose  commission,  together  with  his  arrival  in  America  and  his 
present  activities,  I  ofifer  a  report,  in  this  place.  He  was  born  in  Ro- 
emhild  and  from  1769  till  1772  was  engaged  in  the  study  of  Theology 
at  the  Royal  Prussian  Frederick's  University,  in  this  city.  During 
all  this  time  he  commended  himself  by  his  diligence  and  his  earnest 
Christian  example,  whilst  his  faithful  labors  among  the  youth  of  the 
Orphan  Home  established  here,  were  not  without  good  fruits.  At  that 
time  already,  my  predecessor,  who  now  rests  in  the  Lord,  Rev.  Dr. 
Freylinghausen,^  had  decided  that  the  call  to  serve  the  Church  in 
America  might,  with  great  propriety,  be  directed  to  him.  An  infirm 
state  of  health  however,  the  lingering  effect  of  a  severe  fever  from 
which  he  had  but  recently  recovered,  rendered  it  impossible  for  him, 
at  that  time,  to  undertake  so  long  a  journey.  So,  after  finishing  his 
academical  studies,  Mr.  Weinland  went  back  to  his  native  home,*  wait- 
ing for  the  leadings  of  Divine  Providence ;  meanwhile  seeking  to  make 
himself  useful  as  private  instructor  and  by  frequent  preaching  of  the 
word. 


4  PKEFACE. 

In  the  year  1784  the  Eeverencl  Ministerium  and  the  united  German 
Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations  in  Pennsylvania  addressed  to  us 
an  earnest  request,  to  supply  them  with  two  additional  pastors,  if  pos- 
sible, and  even  renewed  this  request  in  1785.  Accordingly  I  deter- 
mined in  the  Name  of  the  Lord,  to  place  this  call  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
AYeinland,  for  he  was  held  in  honor  by  those  Avho  knew  him ;  and  of 
his  steadfast  sincerity  I  had  the  satisfactory  evidence  of  a  worthy 
friend  of  mine  who  had  carefully  observed  his  manner  of  life,  and  who 
had,  at  times,  invited  Mr.  Weinland  to  preach  in  his  pulpit.  Now, 
althouo^h  this  matter  had  to  be  referred  ultimatelv  to  the  Divine  lead- 
ings,  and  I  could  not  tell  him  the  location  he  might  be  appointed  to 
occupy  in  the  Church  in  America,  nevertheless  he  showed  himself  to 
be  ready  to  go,  and  willing  to  serve  in  any  position  in  which  the  Lord 
might  be  pleased  to  employ  him.  In  a  very  short  time  after  this,  he 
w^as  examined  and  regularly  ordained  by  the  Church  Consistory  in 
Wernigerode,''  and  in  April  of  last  year  he  set  off  for  America,  taking 
his  journey  through  Holland.  ,  About  the  end  of  May  he  embarked  at 
Amsterdam,  and,  by  the  Divine  Favor,  landed  in  Philadelphia  on 
August  18th.  The  church  in  Germantown  gave  him  a  call  to  become 
their  pastor  and  he  accepted  the  call  at  once.  May  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  ever  qualify  him  more  and  more  for  his  holy  office  and  make 
him  a  blessing  to  the  Church.® 

I  have  already  referred  to  the  fact  that  some  of  the  older  pastors 
stood  in  relations  of  intimacy  and  co-operation  with  men  of  learning. 
I  may  be  allowed,  at  this  point,  to  take  some  further  notice  of  it  by 
way  of  explanation.  This  may  be  the  more  acceptable  for  the  reason, 
that  the  action  Avhich  has  recently  been  taken,*  in  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  for  the  advancement  of  learning  is,  as  yet,  perhaps,  not 
very  generally  known  amongst  us.  By  such  explanation  also,  I  may 
obviate  such  misunderstandings  as  might  result  from  the  circumstance, 
that  in  the  more  recent  continuations  certain  of  the  older  pastors,  who 
are  elsewhere  mentioned  simply  by  their  names,  are  described  both  as 
Doctors  and  Professors. 

The  case  is  as  follows.  Previously  to  the  year  1779  there  had  been 
an  Academic  Gymnasium  in  Philadelphia,  which  however,  during  that 
year  was  raised  to  the  grade  of  an  University.  For  the  government  of 
the  University  a  Board  of  twenty-four  Trustees  was  appointed ;  and  of 
this  Board  the  senior  pastors  of  the  several  Christian  denominations 
were  members.  The  Gymnasium  itself  was  still  continued  under  the 
name  of  the  Academy,'  but  was  distinct  from  the  University,  and  be- 
came simply  a  school  for  the  Germans,  where  they  were  taught  the  ru- 


PREFACE. 


diments  of  learning,  and  spent  two  hours  every  day  in  the  study  of  the 
English  language ;  in  order  that  they  might  profit  the  more  from  the 
English  lectures  and  instructions,  upon  their  entering  the  University 
itself  A  German  Professor  of  Philology  was  established  in  the  Uni- 
versity, whose  duty  it  was  to  give  preliminary  instructions  in  Science 
and  in  the  learned  languages,  by  means  of  the  German  tongue.  Those 
students  who,  having  successfully  passed  through  the  course  in  the 
Academy,  entered  the  University,  pursued  the  study  of  Latin,  Greek 
and  Hebrew  under  his  direction.  The  Hebrew  however,  and  the  Ger- 
man likewise,  met  with  but  little  attention  on  the  part  of  the  young 
Englishmen.'"  The  Department  of  Philosophy  and  other  branches  of 
learning  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  English  Professors. 

Dr.  Kunze  was  appointed  to  the  chair  of  German  Professor  of  Phil- 
ology, first  as  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek,  subsequently  of  the  Ori- 
ental languages ;  and  from  that  time  is  spoken  of  under  the  title  of 
Professor,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  sixteenth  report. 

This  arrangement  may  be  of  great  advantage  to  the  cultivation  of 
science  in  general,  and  specially  to  the  interests  of  the  Germans  in 
America.  Its  success  has  been  remarkable  already.  In  the  year  1784 
a  public  examination  was  held  in  the  University,  and  the  young  phy- 
sicians gave  evidence  of  their  attainments  and  skill  in  Materia  Medica, 
in  Chemistry  and  in  Anatomy.  On  this  occasion  also,  for  the  first 
time,  the  University  awarded  academic  honors.  Among  the  young 
students,  who  were  subjected  to  the  public  and  private  examinations, 
the  latter  being  particularly  searching,  those  who  had  distinguished 
themselves  were  honored  with  the  degree  of  Baccalaureate;"  whilst  at 
the  same  time,  distinctions  of  a  higher  grade  were  accorded.  The  De- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  the  two  Professors 
Kunze  and  Helmuth,  as  also  upon  the  worthy  Senior,  pastor  Muhlen- 
berg, in  token  of  the  high  consideration  in  which  he  had  been  held  for 
many  years. 

In  the  year  1785  Dr.  Kunze  was  called  to  New  York  in  which  city 
also,  a  University  had  been  founded.  In  this  institution  he  was  in- 
stalled as  Professor  of  Oriental  languages  and  his  vacant  professorship 
of  Philology  in  Philadelphia  was  filled  by  the  appointment  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Helmuth.  Although  the  engagements  of  the  pastors  named  above 
have  been  greatly  multiplied  by  the  labors  into  which  they  have  been 
led  by  their  zeal  and  their  abilities  in  good  works,  yet  they  have  never 
forgotten  to  meet  and  discharge  their  weightiest  obligations ;  but  have 
ever  acquitted  themselves  as  ministers  of  the  Gospel  with  all  fidelity. 

As  a  proof  of  the  hearty  sympathy  that  is  felt  in  Pennsylvania  and 


b  PREFACE. 

especially  in  Philadelphia,  for  the  Germans  who  often  land  there  in  a 
truly  deplorable  condition,  and  as  an  illustration  of  what  is  actually 
done  to  relieve  their  misery,  I  shall  now,  in  conclusion,  mention  a 
couple  of  arrangements  that  are  to  be  commended  in  a  very  high 
degree. 

One  of  them  is  known  by  the  name  of  "  The  German  Society."  '^ 
It  is  not  the  object  of  this  Society  to  busy  itself  in  prosecuting  any 
branch  of  learning,  as  might,  possibly,  be  inferred  from  the  name  it 
bears.  Its  aim  is  to  give  whatever  assistance  may  be  needed  by  the 
Germans  upon  their  arrival  in  America,  and  to  protect  them  against 
the  impositions  of  traders  and  captains  of  vessels.  Those  Germans,  as 
is  well  known,  Avho  were  not  able  to  pay  cash  for  their  passage  across 
the  ocean,  had  to  bind  themselves  to  spend  a  certain  number  of  years 
in  servitude.  This  lot,  hard  enough  in  itself,  was  formerly  rendered 
more  so  by  the  fact,  that  the  Magistrates,  before  whom  they  had  to 
appear  for  the  settlement  of  the  contract,  were  altogether  ignorant  of 
the  German  language.  At  this  time  however,  a  Society  of  about  one 
hundred  noble-minded  men,  of  different  religious  denominations,  is  in 
existence,  organized  for  the  purpose  of  doing  the  very  best  for  the 
German  immigrants ;  and  a  member  of  this  Society,  himself  a  native 
German,  always  attends  to  the  preparation  of  the  necessary  pajDers  in 
the  proper  form.  Similar  societies  have  been  organized  also  in  New 
York  and  in  Baltimore. 

The  other  praiseworthy  institution  has  been  established  by  what  are 
called  "  The  Overseers  of  the  Poor."  This,  indeed,  is  an  arrange- 
ment that  operates  all  through  Pennsylvania.  Its  work  is  to  supply 
the  wants  of  families  that  may  be  reduced  to  poverty,  and  when  any 
of  them  die,  to  give  them  a  decent  burial.  These  works  are  an  honor 
to  their  originators  and  supporters,  and  may  be  regarded  as  an  evi- 
dence that  their  hearts  have  been  pervaded  by  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel, 
and  made  strong  for  good  works  on  behalf  of  the  suffering  and  the 
needy. 

The  Lord  add  his  blessing,  so  that  His  word  may  continue  to  be 
preached  in  America  and  bring  forth  much  good  fruit.  We  commend 
to  His  faithful,  paternal  care  all  who  are  laboring  there,  and  all  who 
are  engaged  in  the  ministry  of  the  Word.  The  grace  of  God  abide 
with  them. 


JOHN  LUDWIG  SCHULZE. 


Friederich's  University,  Halle, 
Apr.  27th,  1787. 


NOTES   ON  THE  PREFACE. 


*  This  statement  might  produce  a  false  impression.  In  the  beginning  of  the 
century  there  were,  'tis  true,  many  Swedish  Lutheran  Congregations,  especially  in 
those  regions  that  lie  near  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware,  and  in  Pennsylvania,  in 
the  district  of  the  Schuylkill.  Of  these,  notice  is  to  be  taken  herealter.  But  the 
German  Lutheran  Congregations  were,  at  the  beginning  of  the  century,  neither 
numerous  nor  strong;  although  many  Lutherans  had  already  taken  up  their 
abode  in  divers  places.  Among  the  German  Lutheran  Congregations  properly 
so  named,  that  came  into  existence  about  the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  we 
must  reckon  the  Palatine  congregation  after  the  year  1708,  in  the  end  of  which 
year  Pastor  Joshua  von  Kocherthal,  in  company  with  the  first  Palatines,  landed  in 
New  York.  During  the  following  year  he  organized  the  German  Lutheran  con- 
gregation at  Newburg,  Orange  Co.,  on  the  Hudson.  Afterwards  there  were  other 
German  Lutheran  congregations  in  the  regions  of  the  Hudson.  Dutch  (Holliind- 
ische)  Lutheran  congregations  had  existed  in  Albany  and  New  York  several  de- 
cennaries before.  The  oldest  German  Lutheran  congregation  within  the  present 
territory  of  the  United  States  is,  as  it  appears,  the  congregation  at  New  Hanover, 
Pa.,  organized  by  Justus  Falkner,  who  was  ordained  in  1703  in  the  Wicaco 
Church  (Gloria  Dei),  Philadelphia,  by  the  Swedish  pastors  Eudman,  Bj5rk  and 
Sandel.  [Falkner^ s  Swamp:  this  name  may  indeed  refer  to  Daniel  Falkner, 
brotlier  of  Justus.  See  "The  Pa.  Magazine  for  Hist,  and  Biogr.,  Sam.  W.  Penny- 
packer's  Article  on  the  Settlement  of  Germantown,  etc.,  p.  38,  Vol.  IV,  1880. 
This  Daniel  Falkner  was  engaged  there  as  an  agent  of  the  Frankfort  Land  Com- 
pany. See  Acrelius'  History  of  New  Sweden,  p.  21-4.)  Of  course,  during  the  first 
half  of  the  last  century,  and  within  the  territories  of  the  colonies  of  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania  many  German  Lutheran  congregations  came  into  being;  but  in 
many  things  they  came  short  of  a  complete  organization.  See  Eighth  Continua- 
tion of  Hallesche  Nachrichten,  IX.  Gemeinschaftliches  Schreiben,  etc.  See  edi- 
tion of  1787,  p.  667,  sq. 

2  This  refers  to  the  Appeal  mentioned  in  the  first  "  Brief  Report, ''  §  6,  Avhich 
Daniel  ]Veisiger  (so  he  writes  his  name),  of  Philadelphia,  published  in  Germany, 
to  obtain  qualified  pastors  for  the  German  Lutherans  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1733 
Weisiger,  in  company  with  pastor  John  Christian  Schultze  and  John  Daniel 
Schoner,  was  sent  to  Germany  by  the  United  Congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New 
Hanover  and  New  Providence  (Trappe),  to  collect  contributions  for  the  congrega- 
tions in  Pennsylvania,  and  particularly,  to  awaken  among  believing  clergymen  in 
Germany  a  hearty  interest  in  the  spiritual  necessities  of  German  Lutherans  in  the 
Pennsylvania  colonies.  This  arrangement,  however,  was  soon  followed  by  very 
unpleasant  results.  Schultze  was  charged  with  fraud  in  handling  the  monies  that 
had  been  collected,  and  Weisiger,  too,  by  no  means  escaped  the  complaints  that 
were  made  against  his  suspicious  transactions.  The  correspondence  at  the  end  of 
the  first  "  Brief  Eeport,"  copied  from  the  Archives  in  Halle,  supplies  an  explana- 

(7) 


8  NOTES    OX    THE    PREFACE. 

tijn  of  this  business  as  Avell  as  of  other  subjects  belonging  to  the  same  period. 
These  letters  and  other  documents  show  that  Schultze  was  arrested  in  Germany, 
and  compelled  to  surrender  funds  that  had  been  collected.  This  fact  is  stated  in 
the  pamphlet  upon  "  Tke  Talpehocken  Confusion,''  of  the  year  1742.  In  the  "  Col- 
lection of  Select  Mater iah  for  Advancim/  the  Kingdom  of  God,"  contribution  xxiv, 
p.  973,  etc.,  1734,  we  see  it  stated,  that  Schultze  remained  in  Germany  for  the  rea- 
son that  he  had  become  almost  totally  blind.  See  also  Pastoral  Sammlungen  of 
Juhn  Philip  Fresenius,  Theil  12,  1752,  p.  181,  etc.,  361,  etc.  On  May  3,  1784,  Wie- 
siger  published,  at  Hildesheim,  what  he  called  his  ''Short  Account  from  America." 
This  'Account"  was  appended  to  a  letter  of  recommendation  which  had  been 
given  him  by  the  Court  Preacher  Ziegenhagen,  in  London,  a  man  entitled  to  high 
honors  for  his  zeal  in  the  interests  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  especially  in  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  and  also  in  other  regions.  Also,  connected  with  the  same  account,  Wei- 
siger  published  his  credentials  as  they  were  issued  by  the  three  congregations  and 
duly  attested,  in  Latin,  by  the  then  ruling  Governor  of  Pennsylvania.  The  cor- 
respondence that  we  furnish  as  an  appendix  to  the  "  First  Brief  Eeport,"  together 
with  the  "Short  Account"  of  Hildesheim,  jjresents  all  this  as  well  as  divers  other 
matters  in  their  proper  light.  The  cries  and  apjDcals  of  Lutherans  in  Pennsylva- 
nia awakened,  after  all,  an  interest  in  the  old  world  Avhich  bore  fruit  at  last,  in 
the  sending  of  H.  M.  Muhlenberg  in  1742,  and  subsequently  in  the  sending  of  the 
pastors  who  followed  him  as  his  fellow-laborers.  See  Acta  Ilist.  Eccles.,  Vol.  I, 
p.  168,  1734;  3d  edition,  1737,  Vol.  I,  p.  165,  etc.  Fresenius'  Pastoral  Sammlungen, 
Part  12,  p.  370.     Brief  Eeport,  I  6. 

In  reference  to  John  Christian  Schultze  (Schulze  and  Schulz)  we  may  add,  that 
he  is  said  to  have  been  born  in  the  Markgr.  Ansbach,  in  Scheinbach.  Now  in  that 
territory  there  is  no  place  called  Scheinbach,  although  there  is  a  village  Schein- 
tield,  somewhat  Avest  of  the  line  dividing  Ansbach  from  Bamberg.  Could  this  be 
simply  an  interchange  of  names?  In  the  same  region  there  are  several  hamlets 
called  Steinbach.  It  is  not  known  where  Schultze  was  educated,  although  Stras- 
burg  is  said  to  have  been  the  place.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg  seems  to  have  doubted 
whether  he  was  ordained.  See  "  Continuation  IX.,  Gemeinschafdich  Schreiben,  etc., 
old  edition,  p.  669.  He  arrived  in  Philadelphia  Sept.  25, 1732,  by  the  ship  "Loyal 
Juditli."  He  was  then  30  years  old.  See  Prof.  J.  D.  Rupp's  30,000  Names,  Phila., 
I.  Kohler,  1876,  pp.  79,  80.  He  was  brought  over  by  a  man  designated  by  the 
initials  J.  M.  M.  See  Hall.  Nachr.  Continuation  XII,  Pastor  Muhlenberg's  Jour- 
nal, Aug.  7,  1763.  (The  name  of  Jacob  Miller  appears  in  the  list  of  that  ship's 
company.)  At  the  time  of  this  record  in  his  journal,  INIuhlenberg  visited  this 
n)an,  who  was  the  first  and  oldest  resident  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cohanzy  (Sa- 
lem), New  Jersey.  Schulze,  at  once,  began  his  ministry  in  the  congregations  of 
Philadelphia,  New  Providence  and  New  Hanover.  Before  his  departure  for 
Europe  he  ordained  ("in  a  barn")  to  the  office  of  the  ministry,  a  young  man, 
John  Caspar  Stoever  (sometimes  written  Stiefer),  who  himself  afterwards  had 
charge  of  the  three  congregations,  but  for  a  very  short  time.  In  the  Spring  of 
1733  already,  we  find  Schultze  setting  out,  in  company  with  Weisiger  and  Schoener, 
on  the  journey  to  collect  money  in  Europe ;  after  which  Schultze  never  came  back. 
See  the  Appendix  to  this  "  Brief  Report."  "We  have  to  take  it  for  granted  that 
Schultze  represented  himself  to  the  Governor  as  an  ordained  and  regularly  settled 
pastor.  However,  a  passage  in  those  "Acta"  makes  this  somewhat  doubtful.  See 
No.  VII,  Letter  of  Dr.  G.  A.  Franke  to  Ziegenhagen. 


NOTES    ON    THE    PREFACE.  9 

2  This  seems  to  indicate  the  purpose  of  preparing  further  "Continuations"  of 
this  First  Keport,  which  might  supply  material  for  another  volume;  but  with  the 
present  volume,  comprising  the  hrst  Brief  Report  and  its  sixteen  continuations, 
the  undertaking  ceased.  The  great  change  that  afiected  the  political  state  of  the 
world  towards  the  end  of  the  last  century,  and,  no  doubt,  the  change  that  occurred 
in  the  department  of  Theology  and  religious  activity  contributed  also  to  this  re- 
sult. The  Lutheran  Church  in  America,  however,  ceased  to  be  controlled  by  the 
influence  that  had  previously  proceeded  from  Halle.  In  a  short  explanatory  ap- 
pendix of  the  fifteenth  continuation.  Dr.  G.  A.  Freylinghausen  states  that  the 
sixteenth  continuation  should  follow  and  so  complete  the  volume.  He  adds  also, 
that  an  index  of  subjects  and  "jierhaps"  a  new  map  of  Pennsylvania  may  be  in- 
cluded. The  map  never  appeared :  the  index  was  printed  in  the  edition  of  the 
several  continuations,  published  in  1787  ;  it  is  however  very  unsatisfactory.  The 
continuations  were  generally  published  separately  and  gratuitously  by  booksellers 
or  by  several  individuals  uniting  together  in  the  work ;  they  were  then  circulated 
freely  among  the  friends  of  the  Churches  in  America,  and  the  generous  contribu- 
tors to  the  important  work;  and  of  all  these,  correct  lists  were  preserved.  All 
the  credit  to  which  Dr.  J.  C.  Schultze  is  entitled,  in  publishing  the  volume  com- 
plete, amounts  simply  to  this,  that  he  furnished  the  sixteenth  continuation,  the 
index,  the  preface  and  the  title-page;  and  the  names  of  G.  A.  Francke,  J.  G. 
Knapp  and  G.  A.  Freylinghausen  might  appear  upon  the  title-page  as  promi- 
nently as  his  own.  The  "Hallesche  Missionsnachrichten "  appeared  as  Continui- 
tiiten  until  1769,  in  nine  large  volumes.  A  new  series  was  begun  in  1770,  under 
the  title  "More  Eecent  History"  and  was  continued  until  1848.  A  complete  copy 
is  not  now  to  be  had.  The  47th  No.  published  by  Schulze  in  1795  contains,  as  its 
second  article,  Dr.  Kunze's  sermon  on  the  occasion  of  the  decease  of  Dr.  ISIuhlen- 
berg.  It  contains  also,  extracts  of  letters  written  by  Drs.  Helmuth,  Kunze  and 
Schmidt,  in  several  different  years.  We  may  yet  add,  that  the  separating  of  the 
"Hallische  Nachrichten"  into  two  volumes,  as  we  often  see  it,  does  not  exactly 
result  from  the  plan  of  the  "  Gesammtausgabe "  of  1787. 

*  This  distinguished  man  whom,  as  well  as  others  named  in  this  preface,  w^e 
shall  often  meet  as  we  go  on,  departed  this  life  in  the  very  year  in  which  this 
volume  was  printed  in  Halle. 

5  His  full  name  is  Gottlieb  Anastasius  Freylinghausen.  He  Avas  the  son  of 
JoHX  Axast.  Freylinghausen,  who  died  in  1739,  more  distinguished  as  the  chief 
colleague  and  successor  of  August  Herman  Francke,  and  also  for  his  connection 
with  the  history  of  German  hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  and  their  preparation  for 
the  service  of  the  Church.  Concerning  the  father,  see  Dr.  G.  Chr.  Knapp's  "  Lives 
and  Characteristics  of  certain  Learned  and  Pious  Men  of  the  last  Century,"  Halle, 
1829,  p.  147,  seq. 

«  This  means  his  native  land  in  a  narrower  sense,  in  Prussian  Halle.  This  nar- 
rower fatherland  was  Saxe-Meiningen-Hildburghausen,  a  dukedom  running  along 
south-west  of  the  Thuringian  Forest,  and  divided  into  five  grand  districts.  Rom- 
hild,  as  named  in  the  text,  belonged  to  one  of  these  districts. 

^  This  was  a  reichsfreie  earldom  and  city  in  what  is  now  the  Prussian  province 
of  Saxony ;  but  at  that  time  it  was  under  the  dominion  of  a  branch  of  the  house  of 
the  Counts  of  Stollberg.  Towards  the  end  of  the  last  century  the  German  Em- 
pire was  cut  up  into  not  less  than  266  imperial  lordships,  reichsfreie  cities  and 


10  NOTES    ON    THE   PREFACE. 

even  reichsfreie  villages ;  that  is,  they  were  under  the  direct  authority  of  the  Em- 
peror. As  far  as  the  history  of  the  Stollberg  family  is  connected  with  the  present 
work  we  remark  as  follows : — Count  Christian  Ernst  von  Stollberg,  oldest  son  of 
Count  Christian  Ludwig,  made  a  division  of  the  inheritance,  with  his  brothers, 
after  their  father's  death ;  then  moved  to  Wernigerode  in  1710  as  reigning  prince 
and  became  the  founder  of  a  race  that  is  flourishing  even  to  this  day.  He  himself 
as  well  as  Keuss,  IsEXBrRG,  Solms,  Dohna,  Saalfeld,  Henkel,,  and  many 
others  was  among  those  princes  and  the  nobility  of  Germany  who  became  the 
subjects  of  what  is  called  Pietism,  a  religious  movement  proceeding  from  the  la- 
bor of  Philipp  Jacob  Spener,  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
His  piety  was  earnest  and  sincere,  and  not  impaired  by  any  fanatical  appendages. 
He  was  a  lover  of  the  fine  arts  and  of  literature.  As  such  he  founded  a  grand  li- 
brary at  Wernigerode,  which  included  also  a  valuable  collection  of  copies  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  His  wife,  Sophie  Charlotte,  with  Avhom  he  celebrated  his  golden 
wedding  in  1762,  sympathized  heartily  with  him  in  his  religious  jjrinciples.  The 
outward  expressions  of  his  piety  were  simple  and  practical ;  and  he  always  stood 
aloof  from  the  force-work  and  the  extravagances  of  the  Moravians,  as  they  were 
practised  in  his  time.  This  explains,  why  he,  who  cherished  the  most  friendly 
sentiments  towards  Halle  and  the  active  spirit  proceeding  from  that  point,  had 
several  missionaries  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  who  were  to  serve  in 
the  German  congregations  in  America,  ordained  to  their  holy  oflice  by  his 
Consistory,  the  highest  ecclesiastical  authority  in  liis  dominions,  as  we  sliall 
see  hereafter.  We  may  learn  from  the  passage  in  the  text,  that  affairs  were  still 
conducted  in  the  same  spirit  after  his  death.  See  Histor.  Taschenbuch  of  Fred. 
von  Eaumer,  3d  Series,  4th  Jahrgang,  1853,  p.  183,  etc.  We  may  add  that  in 
Wernigerode  there  is  what  is  called  an  Immediate  Consistorium,  which  is  in  active 
operation  to  this  day. 

^  Weinland  began  his  labors  in  the  congregation  at  Germantown,  Philadel- 
Ijhia,  in  September,  1786,  and  resigned  in  the  year  1789.  During  the  time  of  his 
ministry  the  congregation  was  in  a  flourishing  state ;  there  was  a  congregational 
week-day  school  and  catecliisation(Kinderlehre)  regularly  every  Sunday;  and,  in 
general,  the  good  old  usages  of  the  Lutheran  Church  were  kept  up.  At  that  time 
^the  congregation  was  prosperous  (reported  by  F.  A.  Kiihler,  present  pastor  of  the 
(.:>ngregation).  Weinland  was  received  into  the  Ministerium  in  1787.  From 
1790  till  1796  he  was  pastor  at  New  Hanover ;  and,  about  1793  and  '94,  at  New 
Providence  also,  to  which  congregation  he  was  called  again  at  a  later  period.  Flis 
name  does  not  appear  upon  the  Koll  of  the  Ministerium  after  1796.  Objections 
were  raised  against  admitting  him  again  in  1803  and  1804,  altliough  a  friendly 
encouragement  was  accorded  him.  See  Protokoll  of  the  Synod  in  MS.  In  the 
Centennial  sermon  of  the  Trappe  (Xew  Providence)  congregation  preached  by  Dr. 
J.  W.  Richards,  May  2,  1843,  Dr.  R.  says,  p.  26,  that  Weinland  preached  there 
between  1793  and  1808,  and  that  he  died  and  was  buried  there. 

^  This  High  School  was  established  through  the  influence  of  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin in  1749.  Under  a  second  charter,  granted  in  1755,  it  was  enlarged  into  a  col- 
lege, Avith  a  Free  School  attached.  Out  of  this  grew  up  at  a  later  period,  1779, 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  The  Resolution  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  that 
the  German  Professor  should  teach  Latin  and  Greek  by  means  of  the  German 
-language,  bears  the  date  January  10,  1780.     For  some  time  the  German  students 


NOTES    ON    THE    PREFACE.  11 

constituted  a  distinct  class.  See  sixteenth  continuation.  Hall.  Nachrichten,  IV, 
Letter  of  Prof.  Kunze,  June  13,  1780.  Old  edition,  p.  1421,  XVI,  Letters  of  Pus- 
tors  Helmuth  and  Schmidt,  Aug.  30,  1785.  Old  edition,  p.  1516,  Wood's  History 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  Concerning  the  Seminary  that  was  founded 
in  Philadelphia  in  1773,  chiefly  through  the  influence  of  Kev.  Dr.  Kunze,  but  was 
soon  given  up  on  account  of  the  troublous  times,  see  fifteenth  continuation,  III. 
Old  edition,  p.  1378.  See  also  the  "Staatsbote"  of  Feb.  16  and  June  15,  1773, 
and  October  26,  1774. 

^°  This  word  can  refer  only  to  those  students  who  spoke  the  English  language 
chiefly  or  exclusively,  and  who  were,  with  but  few  exceptions,  natives  of  America. 

^'  Usually  designated  by  B.A.,  Bachelor  of  Arts.  At  the  time  of  Pope  Gregory 
IX,  in  the  13th  Century  this  was  the  lowest  degree  conferred  by  the  Theological 
Faculty  in  Paris.  This  was  afterwards  adopted  by  other  Faculties  and  Institu- 
tions of  Learning.  As  to  the  etymology  of  the  word  there  is  still  much  diversity 
of  opinion. 

'■•^  The  last  Article  furnished  in  the  "Hall.  Nachrichten"  refers  to  this  Society. 
See  Sixteenth  Continuation,  XVII.  The  exact  title  is,  "The  German  Society  of 
Pennsylvania."  It  was  founded  in  1764  and  chartered  in  1781.  Its  principal 
objects  are  the  service  of  beneficence,  specially  on  behalf  of  German  immigrants, 
securing  for  them  the  enjoyment  of  their  legitimate  rights ;  the  maintenance  of 
schools  and  a  library  (this  last,  at  present,  contains  about  16,000  volumes).  It  has 
also  an  "Archive  Committee,"  which  has  collected,  in  a  separate  library,  a  consid- 
erable number  of  the  productions  of  German-American  literature;  portions  of 
which  are  very  rare.  See  the  work  of  Dr.  O.  Seidensticker,  Professor  in  the  Uni- 
versity at  Philadelphia,  quellenmtissig  and  so  attractive  in  its  style,  "Geschichte 
der  Deutschen  Gesellschaft  von  Pennsylvanien,"  Philadelphia,  I.  Kohler,  and 
Schafer  and  Koradi,  1876.  Here  too  the  reader  may  find  a  very  valuable  contri- 
bution to  the  general  history  of  the  German  immigration  and  of  German  life  in 
the  United  States.  In  the  Catalogue  of  the  Library  of  the.  German  Society  jjub- 
lished  in  1879,  a  separate  list  of  the  volumes  in  the  Archives  is  appended. 
Concerning  "German-American  Bibliography,"  until  the  close  of  the  last  century, 
see  the  Articles  of  Prof.  Dr.  O.  Seidensticker  in  "Deutschen  Pioneer,"  Cincinnati, 
9  and  10  Jahrgang. 


BRIEF  REPORT 

OF 

CERTAIN   EVANGELICAL  CHURCHES 

IN   AMERICA, 

SPECIALLY  IN  PENNSYLVANIA. 


(2)  1.^  Among  the  large  masses  of  people  who,  in  these  days,  and 
in  so  many  places,  are  so  abundantly  favored  with  the  regular 
preaching  of  the  Gos23el,  there  are  alas,  comparatively  few  who  seem  to 
value  it  aright,  few  who  are  willing  to  submit  to  the  gracious  purposes 
of  God,  even  so  far  as  to  allow  themselves  to  be  .led  to  Christ,  by  the 
teachings  of  the  Word.  On  the  contrary,  it  has  been  often  observed, 
that  people  who  have,  for  a  season,  been  dej^rived  of  these  Christian 
privileges,  people  to  Avhom  God  has  sent  "  a  famine,  not  of  bread,  but 
of  hearing  the  words  of  the  Lord"  (Amos  8:  11),  soon  become  deeply 
convinced  of  the  very  high  value  of  the  Gospel.  Accordingly,  when 
the  Lord  restores  to  such  people  the  privileges  of  the  Gospel,  and  has 
it  preached  among  them  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  Power, 
they  are  very  apt  to  receive  and  welcome  it  with  the  more  abundant 
gratitude  and  joy. 

This  may,  indeed,  not  be  true  of  all  to  whom  the  Gospel,  after  a 
temporary  withdrawing,  has  been  again  restored.  Nevertheless,  we 
meet  with  many  who,  like  famished  sheep,  accept  with  full  purpose, 
the  word  of  the  Lord,  as  the  food  of  their  souls,  aj^plying  it  for  their 
deliverance  and  salvation,  and  thanking  God  for  it,  with  their  whole 
heart.  Of  all  this,  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Churches  in 
Pennsylvania  afford  striking  illustration.  Of  this  we  propose  to  treat 
in  the  following  Report    (a). 


(a)  This  Brief  Report  was  first  published  in  the  year  1744,  and  the  number  of 
copies  then  printed  was  small.  This  was  soon  followed  by  two  "Continuations." 
These  issues  were  exhausted  sooner  than  had  been  expected,  and  frequent  de- 
mands were  made  for  a  further  supply.  So  the  necessity  arose  for  a  new  edition, 
in  the  preparation  of  which  one  thing  and  another,  which  had  been  but  briefly 
presented  in  the  haste  of  the  first  edition,  is  treated  with  that  fullness  which  cir- 
cumstances seemed  to  require. 

(12) 


BKIEF  REPORT  OF  CERTAIN  EVANG.  CHURCHES  IN  AMERICA.   13 

(3)  2.  It  is  vrell  knov/n  that  towards  the  end  of  the  last  century, 
many  privileges  and  advantages  were  pledged  to  the  new  inhabi- 
tants of  the  English  Colonies  in  North  America.  From  that  time  and 
onward,  many  hundreds  of  families  began  to  emigrate  from  Germany ; 
and,  in  large  numbers,  to  take  up  their  abode  in  divers  provinces  and 
regions ;  but  most  of  all  in  Pennsylvania.''  Pennsylvania,  being  a 
j)iirt  of  the  territory  belonging  to  England,  along  the  coast,  and  south 
of  Canada,  lies  between  ^laryland,  New  Jersey,  New  York  and  the 
country  of  the  Iroquois  Indians.  In  the  year  1681  King  Charles  II 
gave  it  to  William  Penn,^  a  wealthy  Quaker,  in  order  that  it  might 
be  occupied  and  cultivated. 

3.  We  do  not  propose,  at  this  time,  to  concern  ourselves  about  the 
external  features  of  this  country,  nor  about  its  present  form  of  govern- 
ment. As  far,  too,  as  relates  to  any  churches  that  may  be  organized 
and  established  there,  it  is  not  our  purpose  to  exhibit  their  condition 
and  operations,  although  their  names  may  often  occur  in  our  reports. 
Neither  do  w^e  expect  to  prosecute  our  inquiries  into  the  worship  and 
activities  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Churches,  which  are  here  and  there 
well  supplied  with  faithful  pastors.  Our  sole  object  is  to  speak  only 
of  those  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregations  which  are  composed  of 
native  Germans. 

4.  The  most  of  these  congregations  were,  at  first,  quite  inadequately 
supplied  with  the  necesary  accommodations  both  for  churches  and  for 
schools.  They  had  not,  as  yet,  had  any  regularly  settled  pastors  to 
give  them  instruction  in  the  Word  of  God,  and  to  administer  the 
Sacraments  to  their  edification.  Their  children,  through  lack  of  in- 
struction, very  generally  grew  up  in  ignorance,  except  when  the  pa- 
rents themselves  were  in  a  position  to  lead  them  to  the  knowdedge  of 
God  and  of  Divine  things.  True,  there  Avere  not  wanting  men  who, 
for  their  own  private  gains,  pushed  themselves  forward  into  the  rank 
of  teachers,  yet  a  sad  experience  revealed  the  fact,  that  these  persons 
not  only  had  very  little  concern  about  the  souls  of  their  pupils,  but 
also,  that  by  their  scandalous  lives  and  example,  they  were  doing  a 
vast  amount  of  mischief  As  the  result  of  this,  the  disturbances  in  the 
congregations  themselves  ever  continued  to  grow  greater  and  more 

serious.* 

(4)  5.  Such  was  the  sad  condition  of  these  forsaken  congregations, 
when  at  last,  several  of  them,  driven  by  dire  necessity,  began,  in 

1733,  to  turn  their  eyes  tow^ards  Europe,  looking  out  for  help.  They 
undertook  to  send  ofi*  several  of  their  brethren  as  Commissioners  to 
England  and  to  Germany,  charged  Avith  the  duty  of  making  their 


14  BRIEF  REPORT  OF  CERTAIN 

spiritual  destitution  known,  of  collecting  money  for  the  building  of 
churches  and  schoolhouses,  and  above  all,  of  earnestly  imploring  that 
worthy  and  competent  pastors  and  teachers  might  be  sent  to  them. 
The  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  the  principal  city  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  the  congregations  in  New  Hanover  and  Providence,  about 
eighteen  or  twenty  miles  from  Philadelphia,  were  specially  prominent 
in  having  these  matters  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Court  Preacher 
of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  in  London,^ — the  Rev.  Frederick  M.  Ziegenhagen.^  Pas- 
tor Ziegenhagen  not  only  took  the  matter  to  heart,  himself;  but  also 
fiirnished  the  Commissioners  with  letters  of  recommendation  addressed 
to  distinguished  divines  and  clergymen  in  Germany. 

6.  Among  other  favors,  the  above  mentioned  Court  Preacher  Zie- 
genhagen furnished  one  of  the  Commissioners,  Mr.  Daniel  Weis- 
siGER,  with  a  very  strong  commendatory  letter,  dated  January  28th, 
1734,  and  addressed  to  a  certain  pastor  in  Hanover,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased. In  this  letter  the  following  statements  are  prominently  pre- 
sented : 

"It  is  alas,  too  true,  that  the  Evangelical  Churches  that  are  scat- 
tered here  and  there  in  America,  especially  in  Virginia,  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  etc.,  are  in  a  very  deplorable  condition,  particularly  in 
regard  to  the  word  of  God  and  the  holy  sacraments,  and  such  appoint- 
ments as  are  necessary  for  proper  instruction  in  the  Divine  word  and 
the  right  administration  of  the  sacraments.  I  have  received  many 
mournful  communications  from  several  of  these  Churches,  in  which 
they  make  the  most  touching  appeals  for  bibles,  prayer  books,^  cate- 
chisms, pastors  and  other  tokens  of  our  Christian  sympathy.  They 
even  assert,  that  in  consequence  of  the  great  lack  of  the  means  of 
grace,  there  is  danger  that  they  and  their  children  may  relapse  into 
heathenism.  I  am  greatly  distressed,  for  the  reason  that  I  hardly 
know  what  to  do  by  way  of  relief  Allow  me  specially  to  mention  the 
fact,  that  in  the  month  of  October,  of  last  year,  the  congregation  in 
Philadelphia  sent  to  me,  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Daniel  Weissiger,**  one 
of  its  members,  an  extended  and  quite  an  affecting  communication,  in 
which,  among  other  things,  the  following  statements  occur :  '  We  live 
in  a  country  that  is  full  of  heresy  and  sects.  As  far  as  our  relig- 
(5)  ious  interests  are  concerned,  we  are  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  desti- 
tution ;  and  our  own  means  are  utterly  insufficient  to  effect  the 
necessary  relief,  unless  God,  in  His  mercy,  may  send  us  help  and  means 
from  abroad.  It  is  truly  lamentable  to  think  of  the  large  numbers  of 
the  rising  generation  who  know  not  their  right  hand  from  their  left ; 


EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES    IN    AMERICA.  15 

and,  unless  help  be  promptly  rendered,  the  danger  is  great,  that  in 
consequence  of  the  great  lack  of  churches  and  schools,  the  most  of 
them  will  be  misled  along  the  ways  of  destructive  error.  He  who 
tries  the  hearts  and  the  reins  knows  how  very  much  we  need  the  ma- 
terial aid  of  our  Christian  brethren.  Truly,  in  our  appeal  for  pecuni- 
ary contributions  we  have  desired  nothing  but  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  welfare  of  souls,  so  many  of  whom  are  scattered  abroad  through 
the  land.  We  do  not,  at  all,  contemplate  the  building  of  imposing 
and  expensive  churches.  If  we  only  have  enough  to  erect,  in  several 
places,  such  buildings  as  may  enable  us  to  come  together  in  a  respect- 
able way,  to  praise  and  worship  our  Lord  in  an  appropriate  manner, 
and  also  to  give  the  necessary  instruction  to  the  youth,  we  shall  be 
satisfied.  .  .  .  We  yet  hope  that  God,  in  His  mercy,  will  not  for- 
sake us ;  but  will  stir  up  the  hearts  of  the  benevolent,  so  that  they  may 
hasten  to  our  relief,  in  order  that  we  may  not  utterly  perish.  In  view 
of  these  things  we  cannot  refrain  from  imploring  your  Excellency,  once 
more,  in  all  sincerity  and  humility,  to  do  whatever  may  be  possible  in 
our  behalf,  etc' 

"  It  cannot  be  denied  that  this  congregation,  as  well  as  other  congre- 
gations in  America,  is  in  a  very  destitute  condition.  This  destitution 
seems  not  to  be  known  in  other  places,  and  sometimes,  even  where  it  is 
known,  it  does  not  appear  to  be  regarded  or  taken  to  heart ;  and  for 
this  reason  the  evil  seems  to  be  waxing  worse  and  worse.  Permit  me 
to  request  your  Reverence,  in  a  most  earnest  and  friendly  spirit,  to 
favor  the  wishes  and  work  of  Mr.  Daniel  Weissiger,  if  possible.  Have 
compassion  for  these  famishing  sheep  and  lambs  of  Jesus  Christ  in 
America,  and  join  with  me  in  endeavoring  to  send  prompt  refresh- 
ment. Although  I  have  not  the  necessary  means  in  hand,  yet  I  shall 
venture,  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord,  to  transmit  to  several  of  these 
Churches,  at  once,  a  supply  of  Bibles,  Prayer-books,  Hymn-books, 
Catechisms,  School-books,  etc.,  etc." 

Having  given  the  foregoing,  we  do  not  think  it  necessary,  at  this 
place,  to  specify  the  numerous  letters  of  recommendation,  addressed  to 
theologians  and  other  friends  in  Germany,  more  particularly  to 
(6)  Prof  Dr.  Francke,  in  Halle,  by  the  Court  Preacher,  Ziegenha- 
gen,  in  which  he  described  the  pressing  wants  of  these  German 
Churches  and  urged  them  upon  the  fraternal  sympathy  of  his  corre- 
spondents. 

7.  In  order  that  the  sad  condition  of  these  neglected  congregations 
might  be  better  understood  in  Germany,  the  above-mentioned  Mr. 
Daniel  Weissiger  had  "A  Brief  Report  from  America"  printed, 


16  BRIEF    REPORT    OF    CERTAIN 

under  his  own  name,  in  Hildesheim,  on  May  3d,  1734.  Appended  to 
this  Report  was  the  letter  of  the  Court  Preacher,  Ziegenhagen,  together 
with  a  letter  of  recommendation  from  the  several  Lutheran  Congrega- 
tions already  mentioned,  confirmed  by  the  official  signature  of  the  royal 
English  Governor.  It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  present  any  extracts 
from  this  publication  here,  because  the  whole  of  this  "  Brief  Report  " 
is  found  in  Xo.  24  of  "The  Collection  of  Choice  Materials  for 
the  Extension  of  the  Kingdom  of  God,"  ^  published  in  Leipsic. 
Besides,  that  document  presents  nothing  more  concerning  these  con- 
gregations, than  what  we  have  already  repeated  or  Avhat  may  be  learnt 
from  what  is  to  follow. 

8.  The  pressing  wants  of  these  congregations,  having  been  thus  pub- 
lished abroad  by  the  printed  Report,  by  letters  and  by  oral  state- 
ments, moved  many  Christian  people  to  sympathy,  until,  their  hearts 
being  quickened  by  the  grace  of  God,  they  contributed  a  portion  of 
their  worldly  means  to  meet  the  necessary  expenses  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  churches  and  schools,  and  also  for  the  regular  establishment  of 
pastors  in  the  ministry  of  the  word.  Indeed,  many  w^orks  of  Christian 
love  were  done,  in  accordance  with  the  suggestions  given  in  the  afore- 
said publication;  and  the  accumulated  contributions  were  all  placed 
in  the  hands  of  Dr.  PfeifFer  in  Leipsic,  Prof.  Dr.  Francke  in  Halle,!" 
Senior  L^rlsperger  in  Augsburg,  and  Pastor  ^laier  in  Halle.  Now  we 
feel  that  we  are  under  a  weighty  obligation  not  only  to  repeat,  in  a 
public  manner,  an  expression  of  the  sincere  gratitude  with  which  these 
benefactions  have  been  accepted,  but  also  to  report  to  the  worthy  bene- 
factors themselves,  hoAV  the  material  help  which  they  have  furnished, 
has  been  applied  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  benefit  of  these  congre- 
gations. 

9.  Before  setting  out  upon  his  journey  home  to  Pennsylvania,  the 
aforesaid  Daniel  Weissiger  was  specially  earnest  in  making  request, 
both  in  Germany  and  in  England,  that  above  all  things,  a  true  and 

faithful  pastor  might  be  sent  to  these  congregations,  one  who 
(7)*    would  minister  to  them  in  the  word  and  in  the  sacraments,  and 

under  whose  superintendence  all  things  might  be  established  and 
conducted  in  good  Christian  order.  He  was  even  the  more  urgent  on 
this  behalf,  for  the  reason,  that  Pastor  John  Christian  Schulze, 
already  connected  with  these  congregations,  and  whom  they  had  sent 
to  Europe  in  company  with  Mr.  Weissiger,  could  not  go  back  with 
him  to  Pennsylvania.  This  request  which  Mr.  Weissiger  urged  with 
so  much  solicitude,  was  afterwards  repeated  by  the  congregations 
themselves,  in  many  letters,  and  in  a  most  affecting  spirit.     From  that 


EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES    IN   AMERICA.  17 

time  great  pains  Avere  taken  to  discover  some  person  who  might  be 
qualified  for  the  position. 

10.  In  this  matter,  however,  there  was  considerable  delay;  because, 
in  addition  to  the  lack  of  prudent  men  who  might  be  competent  to 
such  work,  other  serious  obstacles  presented  themselves.  Yet,  at  last, 
the  Lord,  in  His  mercy,  removed  these,  for  the  most  part,  and  favored 
the  undertaking  so  much,  that  a  man  was  found  who  had  already  been 
for  some  time  in  the  pastoral  office,  and  who  had  afforded  such  evi- 
dences of  self-denial,  faithfulness  and  experience,  as  to  justify  the  hope, 
that,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  he  would  labor  with  good  results  among 
these  neglected  congregations.  This  person  was  the  Rev.  Henry 
Melchior  Muhlenberg,"  born  in  Eimbeck,  in  the  kingdom  of  Han- 
over. Until  this  time  he  held  the  office  of  Deacon  in  Great  Henners- 
dorf  in  Lausatia  and  Inspector  of  the  Orphan  House  in  the  same  place. 
Already  before  this  time  he  had  himself  felt  a  desire  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  if  it  should  please  God  to  permit  it,  even  in  foreign  lands. 

11.  Accordingly,  in  September,  1741,  Prof  Dr.  Francke,  acting  in 
the  name  of  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Churches  in  Philadel- 
phia, New  Hanover  and  Providence,  extended  a  call  to  Mr.  Muhlen- 
berg to  become  the  pastor  of  these  churches.  Moreover,  as  the  Lord 
had,  by  divers  dispensations,  deeply  convinced  him  that  this  call  was 
an  expression  of  the  Divine  will,  he  was  the  more  prompt  in  accepting 
it.  So,  having  received  his  regular  dismission  from  his  pastoral  office 
in  Great  Hennersdorf,  he  set  off  upon  his  journey  to  Pennsylvania  by 
way  of  England.  He  arrived  in  England,  April  17th,  1742,^'  and  re- 
mained there  until  the  following  June. 

12.  It  had  been  thought  advisable,  for  many  good  reasons,  that  he 
should,  first  of  all,  go  to  Ebenezer,'^  in  Georgia,  for  the  purpose  of 

(8)  becoming  acquainted  with  the  experienced  Pastor  Bolzius,'*  of  the 
Saltzburger  congregation  there,  of  conferring  with  him  about  his 
own  work  in  Pennsylvania,  and  of  ascertaining  the  condition  of  the 
country  in  general.  At  the  same  time,  the  hope  had  been  entertained 
that  Pastor  Bolzius  might  accompany  him  to  Pennsylvania,  and  so  in- 
troduce him  to  his  future  charge.  For  these  reasons  then,  Pastor 
Muhlenberg,  having  been  much  refreshed  in  spirit  by  his  happy  inter- 
course with  the  Court  Preacher  Ziegenhagen,  went  on  board  a  ship 
bound  for  Charleston,  in  Carolina,  where  he  met  a  family  of  Saltz- 
burgers  who  were  also  going  to  Ebenezer ;  and  all  set  sail  together  on 
June  23d,  1742.  Upon  this  voyage  he  served  the  Saltzburg  family, 
by  the  preaching  of  the  Word  and  the  administration  of  the  Lord's 
Supper.     But  more  than  that :  although  his  knowledge  of  the  English 


28  BRIEF  EEPORT  OF  CERTAIN 

language  was  quite  imperfect,  having  been  chiefly  acquired  during  his 
short  stay  in  London,  yet  as  the  ship's  company  had  repeatedly  en- 
treated him  to  preach  to  them  in  English,  he  could  not  refuse  to  com- 
ply with  these  requests  on  several  occasions,  seeking  also  to  aSvaken 
the  hearts  of  his  hearers  by  direct  personal  conversation.  By  the 
blessing  of  the  Lord,  many  good  iinpressions  were  produced  by  thig 
familiar,  Christian  intercourse. 

13.  Outwardly  indeed,  he  met  with  many  trials  upon  this  voyage. 
The  ship  was  often  becalmed ;  and  so  the  voyage  itself  was  unusually 
long,  extending  OA-er  fourteen  weeks  and  three  days.  On  August  27th 
the  supply  of  water  was  found  to  be  so  short  that  it  had  to  be  measured 
out  in  very  small  proportions.  At  last  it  was  entirely  exhausted  ;  and 
if  the  Lord  had  not  given  them  a  favorable  wind  in  good  time,  the 
whole  ship's  company  might  have  died  of  thirst.  Although  the  wind 
favored  them  on  August  29th,  yet  after  that  they  were  frequently  ar- 
rested by  calms  and  by  contrary  winds,  so  that  they  had  either  to  lie 
still  or  be  driven  back.  Even  on  September  15th  after  they  had 
sighted  the  land,  from  a  distance,  and  after  they  had  been  trying 
for  several  days  to  quench  their  thirst  with  the  sweet-oil  that  was 
yet  on  hand,  and  with  vinegar,  they  were  seized  by  a  contrary  wind 
and  driven  out  to  sea  again,  so  that  they  did  not  enter  the  harbor  of 

Charleston  before  September  21st.  Already  on  September  16th 
(9)     every  drop  of  everything  that  might  be  used  as  a  beverage  was 

gone,  and  in  the  last  six  days  they  might  have  perished  for  thirst 
had  it  not  been  that,  on  the  date  last  mentioned,  they  met  two  English 
men-of-war  which  supplied  them  with  several  tons  of  water  (6). 

14.  On  September  24th  Pastor  Muhlenberg  left  Charleston,  in  com- 
pany with  the  family  of  Saltzburgers,  and  having  taken  a  boat  on  the 
Savannah  river,  reached  the  city  of  Savannah,  on  his  way  to  Ebenezer. 
He  arrived  here,  on  October  4th,  in  company  with  Pastor  Gronau,  who 
had  met  him  in  Savannah;  the  family  of  Saltzburgers  arriving  on 
October  6th,  all  in  good  condition  (c).  In  Ebenezer  he  spent  eight 
days,  occupying  the  time  in  resting  and  refreshing  himself  from  the 


(b)  This  want  of  water  was  so  extreme  that  the  very  rats  suffered  from  it.  It 
had  been  noticed  that  some  of  them  liad  gnawed  out  the  stopples  of  bottles  con- 
taining vinegar,  then  introduced  their  tails  into  the  liquid,  and  then  sought  to 
allay  their  tliirst  by  draAving  their  tails  through  their  mouths.  Others  would 
mount  the  beds  at  night,  and  lick  the  perspiration  off  of  the  brows  of  the  people 
who  were  asleep. 

(c)  See  "Rev.  Senior  Urlsperger's  Reports  of  Saltzburger  Emigrants,"  Continu- 
ation XI,  p.  2061,  etc. 


EVANGELICAL   CHURCHES   IN   AMERICA.  19 

effects  of  Ins  exhausting  voyage,  by  Christian  fellowship  and  inter- 
course with  the  two  excellent  pastors,  Bolzius  and  Gronau.'"  Upon 
his  departure  he  wrote,  among  other  things,  in  his  diary,  the  following 
record  of  the  great  joy  he  had  felt  in  view  of  the  many  spiritual  and 
temporal  blessings  which  the  Lord  had  granted  to  the  Saltzburg 
colony,  in  view  also  of  the  good  order  that  he  saw  in  all  their  ar- 
rangements. 

"  And  now  I  have  to  leave  Ebenezer.  May  the  Lord  Himself  be  a 
wall  of  defence  around  it,  and  cause  it  to  flourish  and  bloom  and  yield 
much  fruit,  by  His  favor.  Its  excellent  friends  and  benefactors  in 
EurojDe  have  not  employed  their  generosity  in  vain,^^  for  everything  is 
actually  in  as  fair  a  condition  as  has  been  described  in  the  printed  re- 
ports circulated  in  Germany ;  and,  indeed,  in  many  respects  even  much 
better.  Li  temporal  matters,  it  is  a  real  wonder  to  see  how  these  peo- 
ple have,  by  the  Divine  Favor,  worked  themselves  up  out  of  their 
poverty ;  and  in  spiritual  things  a  rich  harvest  may  be  confidently 
exi^ected." 

15.  The  pastors  of  the  Saltzburg  churches  have  not  been  slow  to 
testify,  in  their  several  letters  and  diaries,  how  much  they  themselves 
had  been  refreshed  in  spirit,  during  Pastor  Muhlenberg's  short  sojourn 
w  ith  them,  and  how^  his  public  addresses  and  his  personal  conversation 
had  bound  them  to  him  by  the  ties  of  Christian  love.  As  one 
(10)  illustration  of  this  an  extract  from  their  diary  under  date  of 
February  25th,  1743,  is  here  presented. 

"  About  five  months  ago  a  Saltzburg  family,  consisting  of  the  parents 
and  three  children,  arrived  in  Ebenezer  in  company  with  Pastor  Muh- 
lenberg. On  account  of  their  very  long  and  tedious  voyage  and  the 
total  failure  of  the  supply  of  water  on  board  the  ship,  they  had  almost 
to  stare  death  in  the  face.  Yet  help  was  sent  them  from  Above :  they 
were  rescued  through  a  favorable  wind  which,  in  the  last  extremity, 
w^afted  them  near  to  several  English  men-of-war.  For  this  great  de- 
liverance we  j.oined  with  them  in  public  thanksgiving  upon  the  occa- 
sion of  our  regular  anniversary;'^  and  at  the  same  time  offered  our 
united  thanks  to  God  for  the  blessings  with  which  He  had  been 
pleased  to  attend  the  movements  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  granting  him 
such  a  happy  beginning  for  his  w^ork  among  the  Churches  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  which  w^e  have  been  informed  only  a  few  days  ago.  Our 
Heavenly  Father  has,  through  the  Spirit  of  His  Son,  bound  us  to  Pas- 
tor Muhlenberg  in  sincere  love,  and  we  take  a  deep  interest  in  every 
good  thing  that  may  be  granted  to  him.  "We  have  prayed  for  him 
both  in  public  and  in  private ;  and  now  we  have  to  offer  thanks  both 
with  him  and  on  his  behalf." 


20  BRIEF  REPORT  OF  CERTAIN 

We  omit,  for  the  present,  other  portions  of  their  letters  in  "svhich 
they  record,  even  in  stronger  terms,  their  delight  in  the  excellent 
spirit  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg  and  the  sincere  afiection  with  which  they 
found  themselves  attached  to  him. 

16.  After  Pastor  Muhlenberg  had  been  somewhat  refreshed  and 
strengthened  by  his  short  sojourn  at  Ebenezer  he  began  to  think  about 
hastening  on  his  journey  to  Pennsylvania.  Although  Pastor  Bolzius 
saw  many  serious  obstacles  that  might  prevent  his  accompanying 
Muhlenberg  to  Philadelphia,  yet  such  was  his  interest  in  the  work 
that  he  resolved  to  rise  above  them.  Accordingly  on  October  12th  he 
started  with  Muhlenberg  for  Charleston,  with  the  intention  of  taking 
23assage  there  and  going  the  whole  way  to  Philadelphia.  Upon  arriv- 
ing in  Charleston,  on  October  20th,  they  were  informed  that  no  vessel 
would  sail  from  that  place  for  Philadelphia  before  the  following  Spring 
and  that  it  would  not  be  possible  for  them  to  make  the  journey  by  land. 
So  on  the  24th  Pastor  Bolzius  set  out  upon  his  return  to  Ebenezer,  for 
his  circumstances  would  not  admit  of  his  spending  the  whole  winter  in 
Charleston  upon  an  uncertainty,  and  to  the  neglect  of  the  congregations 

under  his  charge.  After  the  departure  of  Bolzius,  Muhlenberg 
(11)  occupied  the  time  of  his  forced  tarrying  in  Charleston,  chiefly  in 

teaching  some  German  children  and  in  j^i'eaching  on  Sundays 
to  the  Germans  who  were  living  there.'® 

17.  On  November  1st  a  sloop  from  Philadelphia  arrived  in  Charles- 
ton with  the  intention  of 'returning  to  the  former  city.  Although  all 
Muhlenberg's  familiar  friends  and  even  the  captain  of  the  vessel  de- 
clared that  it  was  too  small,  that  it  had  no  accommodations  for  passen- 
gers, that  a  voyage  in  the  winter  season  might  be  dangerous,  yet  all 
their  difficulties  could  not  hinder  him  from  setting  sail.  They  were 
all  outweighed  by  his  ardent  desire  to  reach  the  field  of  his  labors  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  sooner  the  better.  Besides  the  danger  of  further 
disturbances,  threatening  these  Churches,  as  the  effect  of  the  operations 
of  Count  Zinzendorf,'^  and  of  which  he  had  read  in  print,  in  Charles- 
ton, admonished  him  to  be  as  expeditious  as  possible  in  prosecuting  his 
journey.  So,  on  November  12th  he  embarked  on  the  sloop,  and,  on 
the  same  day,  set  sail,  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord.  Upon  this  voyage, 
which  occupied  fourteen  days,  he  endured  many  hardships  and  was 
even  in  peril  of  his  life.  On  account  of  the  convulsive,  violent  move- 
ments of  the  light  vessel,  he  was  confined  to  bed  nearly  the  w^^ole  time 
by  sea-sickness,  at  the  same  time  greatly  disturbed  and  prostrated  both 
by  the  water,  which  either  the  waves  or  the  rain  sent  directly  into  the 
cabin,  and  by  the  frost  and  the  cold  winds  that  beat  upon  him,  his 


EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES   IN    AMERICA.  21 

clothing  being  never  dry.  Finally  however,  on  November  25th,  1742, 
he  happily  arrived  in  Philadelphia. 

18.  It  is  not  our  purpose  to  furnish  here  an  extended  description  of 
the  character  and  circumstances  of  the  country,  or  esj^ecially  of  this, 
its  chief  city.  Yet  it  will  accord  with  the  object  of  this  short  report, 
and  may  be  interesting  to  our  readers,  if  we  introduce  an  extract  of  a 
letter  addressed,  by  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  under  date  of  August  12, 1743, 
to  a  distinguished  theologian  connected  with  a  certain  German  univer- 
sity ;  in  which  letter  he  expresses  his  deep  gratitude  for  the  Divine 
Favor,  and  at  the  same  time  gives  some  account  of  affairs  in  the  coun- 
try itself. 

"  I  remember,  with  great  satisfaction,  the  last  welcome  letter  which 
I  received  from  your  Excellency  wdiilst  I  was  yet  in  London.  There 
w^as  one  word  in  it  which,  above  all  the  rest,  has  proved  to  be  a  word 
of  comfort  and  of  power.  Your  Excellency  was  pleased  to  say  '  The 
Lord  do  well  for  you  upon  your  voyage  across  the  sea,  and  in  all 
(12)  other  circumstances.  Truly,  Our  Father,  reconciled  in  Christ, 
has,  according  to  the  riches  of  His  Mercy,  done  well  for  me,  an 
unworthy  and  uniDrofitable  worm ; — well,  when  I  was  in  London  with 
the  Court  Preacher,  Ziegenhagen ; — well,  w  hen  I  went,  a  stranger  on 
board  the  ship ; — well,  wdien  I  found  myself  there  amidst  a  strange  peo- 
ple, speaking  in  a  strange  tongue ; — well,  when  throughout  my  voyage 
I  encountered  so  many  trials,  in  severe  sickness  and  in  strange  adven- 
tures ; — well,  when  sailing  in  a  ship  hardly  sea-worthy,  we  were  often 
driven  about  by  contrary  winds,  and  had  to  pass  in  the  neighborhood 
of  foes  and  of  dangerous  quarters,  without  human  convoy;  well,  when 
I  was  enabled  on  the  voyage,  to  preach  to  sinners,  my  brethren,  the 
great  Salvation  through  Jesus  Christ  and  the  judgment  that  is  sure  to 
overtake  the  despisers  of  His  grace,  and  that  preaching  too,  in  the  En- 
glish language ; — well,  when  on  board  the  ship  we  were  afflicted  with 
distressing  heat  and  raging  thirst ; — well,  when  the  Lord  answered  the 
prayers  and  the  sighing  of  the  distressed,  who  called  upon  him  in  faith, 
and,  in  answer,  sent  us  a  favorable  wind; — well,  when  He  delivered  us 
from  our  dangers,  and  our  straits  and  tribulations,  and  brought  us  to 
the  harbor  of  Charleston  in  safety  at  last; — well,  when  upon  my  jour- 
ney from  Carolina  to  Georgia,  upon  the  Savannah  river,  He  saved  me 
from  great,  manifest  danger; — well,  when  He  led  me  to  Ebenezer,  in 
Georgia,  among  the  Saltzburgers,  our  brethren  in  the  faith,  where  I 
heard  and  saw  many  good  things  and  enjoyed  many  a  blessing; — well, 
in  bringing  me  back  again  to  Charleston; — well,  in  upholding  and 
strengthening  me  by  His  own  power  in  Charleston,  poor  stranger,  for- 


22  BRIEF  REPORT  OF  CERTAIN 

lorn,  distressed  creature  as  I  was ; — ivell,  when  in  the  winter  season,  I 
sailed  by  sea,  in  a  miserable  sloop  through  storms  and  great  hardships, 
and  in  severe  sickness,  until  my  arrival  in  Philadelphia.  O,  my  re- 
vered friend,  help  me  join  with  other  followers  of  our  Lord,  and  help 
me  to  j^raise  and  extol  the  mercy  and  forbearance  of  God." 

"  Allow  me  now  to  give  you  some  report  of  affairs  as  they  are  in 
these  regions.  In  Philadelphia,  which  is  quite  a  large  city,^''  there  is 
one  English  Episcopal  Church,'*^  with  two  ministers,  whose  salaries  are 
paid  by  the  "Society  for  propagating  the  Knowledge  of  Christ,"^* 
located  in  London.  The  English  Presbyterians  ^^  also  have  a  meeting 
house  in  Philadelphia ;  so  have  the  Quakers  and  the  English  Anabap- 
tists. To  these  we  must  add  the  INIoravians,  who  have  also  built 
(13)  a  meeting  house.  The  Roman  Catholics,  likcAvise,  have  a  meet- 
ing house  and  two  or  three  priests.'^*  Finally,  the  Swedes  have 
one  church.^"  Throughout  the  land  the  sects  and  their  meeting  houses 
can  scarcely  be  numbered." 

Towards  the  end  of  this  letter,  he  says  as  follows : 

"  There  is  not  much  money  here ;  but  the  land  is  so  rich  in  all  kinds 
of  productions,  that  it  may  be  said  to  flow  with  milk  and  honey.  *  *  * 
On  the  one  side  Ave  have  the  Indians  who  are  yet  heathens ;  on  the 
other  side  the  ocean.  '^  *  *  As  far  as  regards  the  climate,  Pennsyl- 
vania is  the  best  part  of  all  America  for  the  Germans.  *  *  "^  Here 
the  houses  do  not  stand  near  together,  as  in  the  villages  of  Germany. 
There  are  always  several  thousand  acres  in  one  body,  and  these  are 
then  divided  amongst  a  number  of  individual  proprietors,  so  that  one 
man  may  own  any  number  of  acres  of  the  whole  tract,  from  twenty  up 
to  five  hundred  acres,  as  the  case  may  be.  At  first  such  a  strip  of 
land  is  simply  woods,  forest ;  but  after  it  has  been  settled  and  culti- 
vated, it  becomes  a  township  or  a  borough,  and  is  provided  with  streets 
and  roads  leading  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  In  traveling  on  the 
highways  you  are  continually  passing  through  woods ;  here  you  come 
to  one  house  standing  near  the  road,  and  then,  some  miles  fiirther  on, 
to  another.  But  the  houses  most  generally  stand  off  a  considerable  dis- 
tance from  the  road.  *  ^  *  In  the  country,  there  are  several  streams 
that  sometimes  suddenly  rise  very  high,  and  then  again  abate.  As 
there  are  no  bridges  over  them,  they  have  to  be  crossed  on  horseback 
or  in  a  canoe.  When  I  go  from  Philadelphia  to  the  churches  in  the 
country,"'^^  I  have  always  to  cross  three  streams ;  and  in  v/inter  this  is 
often  dangerous." 

19.  Without  further  explanation,  any  one  can  clearly  see,  that  the 
presence  of  the  many  sects  spoken  of  in  the  foregoing  letter,  might 


EVANGELICAL   CHURCHES   IN   AMERICA.  23 

easily  have  prevented  even  an  experienced  man  from  accepting  a  call 
to  the  office  of  j^astor;  and  that,  in  addition  to  the  lack  of  elementary 
education  and  to  the  gross  ignorance  of  divine  things  that  was  Avaxing 
worse  from  year  to  year,  it  must  have  been  a  serious  obstacle  in  the 
way  of  the  healthful  action  of  the  Divine  word  in  these  congregations, 
during  the  early  stages  of  a  pastor's  labors.  But  in  addition  to  these 
general  obstacles,  Muhlenberg  had  to  encounter  others  of  a  peculiar 
character.  Among  these  the  more  prominent  Avere  the  facts,  that  in 
consequence  of  the  long  delay  in  the  arrival  of  regular  and  duly  called 
j)astors,  the  congregations  themselves  accepted  as  their  pastors,  some- 
times, men  who  had  been  deposed  from  the  office  in  other  places,  some- 
times men  who  were  otherwise  unfit  for  it ;  and  specially,  the  congre- 
gation in  Philadelphia  received,  under  such  circumstances,  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Valentine  Kraft,"^^  who  had  been  deposed  at  Zwei- 
(14)  briicken.  Besides  this.  Count  Zinzendorf  was  then  in  Philadel- 
phia; and  w^as  supported  by  a  considerable  party.  However, 
the  congregations  rejoiced  greatly  when  Pastor  Muhlenberg  laid  before 
them  the  call  wdiich  had  been  given  him  in  their  name  and  by  their 
authority;  adding  also  the  several  letters  and  testimonials  which  he 
had  brought  with  him.  They  received  him  as  their  pastor,  with  open 
arms,  and  rid  themselves,  at  once,  of  the  unworthy  men  who  had  been 
imposed  upon  them ;  although  the  above-named  Kraft  attempted  to  set 
up  a  pretentious  ecclesiastical  polity,  and  to  pass  himself  off  as  the 
general  superintendent  of  the  Church.  Thus,  not  only  did  these  in- 
truders into  the  pastoral  office  reveal  their  own  vileness  even  more 
clearly  than  it  had  ever  been  seen  before,  but  also  Count  Zinzendorf 
himself  could  not  hinder  the  progress  of  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

Count  Zinzendorf,  under  the  assumed  name  of  Von  Thurnstein,  had 
represented  himself  to  be  a  Lutheran  preacher  and  Inspector  of  the 
Lutherans  in  Pennsylvania;  and,  in  an  extended  interview  Avhich 
INIuhlenberg  had  with  him,  for  the  reason  that  the  Count  had  taken 
possession  of  the  Lutheran  Church  Records,  he  demanded  that  Muh- 
lenberg should  make  an  apology  for  having  ignored  him.  He  endeav- 
ored also  to  prevent  Muhlenberg  from  preaching  in  the  Swedish 
Church ;  and  used  every  effort  to  awaken  suspicion  against  him  in  the 
congregations,  and  to  deprive  him  of  their  confidence.  The  Swedish 
Vestry,  however,  accorded  Muhlenberg  the  privilege  of  worshipping 
with  his  congregation,  in  their  Church,  because  the  house  where  the 
Lutherans  had  been  wont  to  meet  was  now  too  small.  Besides,  not 
only  did  the  Germans  acknowledge  him  heartily  as  their  regular  pas- 
tor, but  others  also,  not  of  the  congregation,  recognized  and  esteemed 


24  BRIEF  REPORT  OF  CERTAIN 

him  as  such.  Count  Zinzendorf  was  commanded  by  the  civil  authori- 
ties to  deliver  up  the  Books  of  the  Lutheran  congregation,  and  shortly 
after,  on  January  1st,  1743,  left  Philadelphia  (d).  So,  the  attempts  of 
the  Count  as  well  as  the  efforts  of  his  followers,  who  remained  in  Phil- 
adelphia, to  prevent  Muhlenberg  from  being  accepted  as  the  pastor  of 

the  congregation,  failed  altogether.  Muhlenberg's  2:)rime  object 
(15)  now  was,  to  determine  how  to  make  the  best  use  of  his  time, 

how  to  make  the  fullest  proof  of  his  ministry  and  how  to  engage 
most  Avisely  in  serving  the  three  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New 
Hanov^er  and  Providence. 

20.  Although  Providence,  which  itself  is  not  far  from  New  Hanover, 
is  yet  about  thirty  miles  from  Philadelphia,  the  frequent  passing  to 
and  fro  between  these  points  being  wearisome,  and,  on  account  of  the 
intervening  streams  of  w^ater,  even  dangerous,  nevertheless  Muhlenberg 
resolved,  that  as  far  as  he  had  strength,  he  would  take  care  of  all 
three  congregations,  until  God  should  be  pleased  to  furnish  him  with 
some  assistants  in  his  ministry.  He  made  his  arrangements  also  to 
spend  one  whole  week  at  a  time  in  each  congregation,  holding  public 
service  on  the  Lord's  Day,  and  occupying  the  days  of  the  week  in  the 
instruction  of  the  children,  because  no  qualified  schoolmasters  even 
could  be  found.  Betw^een  New  Hanover  and  Philadelphia  there  is  a 
small  place,  called  Germantown,^  where  there  is  a  Lutheran  Church 
and  congregation,  several  members  of  which  communicated  to  him 
their  strong  desire  to  share,  with  the  other  churches,  in  his  instructions. 
Accordingly  he  j)roposed,  as  far  as  possible,  to  minister  to  this  congre- 
gation too,  during  the  w^eek  that  might  be  allotted  to  the  Church  in 
Philadelphia,  at  least,  to  preach  once  in  the  w^eek,  in  Germantown.  He 
made  this  arrangement  in  the  hope,  that  if  the  Lord  w^ould  send  other 
pastors,  Germantown  might  be  united  Avith  Philadelphia  to  be  served 
by  one  pastor,  and  New  Hanover  and  Providence  by  another. 

21.  In  these  several  places  his  first  concern  was  about  the  instruction 
of  the  youth  already  somewhat  advanced  in  their  years;  because 
divers  of  them,  some  eighteen,  nineteen,  twenty  years  of  age,  had  di- 
rectly applied  to  him  for  instruction;  and  although  they  had  as  yet 
made  no  beginning  either  in  reading  and  writing  or  in  the  knowledge 
of  God,  yet  he  was  much  cheered  by  the  tokens  they  gave  of  their  de- 
sire to  learn.  There  w^ere,  hoAvever,  other  persons,  older  than  these, 
whom  he  had  to  instruct  in  the  simple  truths  of  Christianity. 

(d)  Further  information  concerning  tlie  undertakings  of  Count  Zinzendorf  and 
liis  adherents  in  Pennsylvania,  may  be  found  in  the  authentic  ''  Nachrichten  von 
Ilerrnhutischen  Sachen"  of  the  Eev.  Senior  Dr.  John  Philip  Fresenius,  Vol. 
Ill,  from  page  87  till  page  872.(28) 


EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES    IN    AMERICA.  25 

On  January  lOtli,  1744,  a  widow  came  to  him  in  New  Hanover,  with 
her  daughter  of  about  twenty-three  years  of  age,  who,  since  her  seventh 
year,  had  been  living  with  English  Quakers,  and  who  proved  not  only 
to  be  totally  ignorant  of  Christian  doctrine,  but  also  to  have  forgotten 
the  German  language.  Her  instruction,  therefore,  had  to  be  given  in 
the  English  language,  which  indeed,  she  so  readily  comprehended,  that 
on  February  6th  she  made  a  confession  of  her  faith,  in  English,  in  the 
presence  of  the  congregation  and  partook,  with  them,  of  the  Lord's 
Supper.  This  scene  produced  a  very  deep  and  happy  impression 
(16)  upon  the  congregation  itself  In  relation  to  the  foregoing  ser- 
vices he  reports,  under  date  of  June  6th,  1744,  as  follows: 

"  I  am  compelled  by  stern  necessity  to  do  the  work  of  a  school-master. 
I  keep  school  one  week  in  Philadelphia,  the  next  in  Providence  and  the 
third  in  Ncav  Hanover,  simply  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  the  larger 
youth  and  the  adults,  whose  instruction  has  been  neglected,  for  con- 
firmation and  for  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  part  also  for  holy  baptism.  In 
Providence  I  have  already  instructed  some  twenty,  confirmed  them  and 
admitted  them  to  the  holy  communion.  Amongst  these  there  were 
several  married  persons.  In  New  Hanover  also  I  have  instructed  and 
confirmed  twenty,  of  wdiom  several  were  about  twenty-five  years  of 
age.  At  the  present  time  I  have  a  small  number,  in  a  course  of  in- 
struction, at  Philadelphia,  w^ho  however,  have  not,  as  yet,  advanced 
very  far.  *  *  *  *  *  On  Whitsunday  I  preached  in  New  Hanover. 
The  crowd  was  so  great  that  they  almost  trod  on  one  another.  After 
the  sermon  I  baptized  eleven  children  in  the  presence  of  the  congrega- 
tion, also  a  married  woman,  to  whose  instruction  I  had  previously  at- 
tended, for  some  time.  This  woman  was  the  child  of  Mennonite,  ana- 
baptist parents,^''  and  during  the  time  of  her  instruction  she  attamed  to 
a  happy,  living  knowledge  of  the  truth.  On  Whitmonday  I  preached 
in  Providence  to  a  very  large  congregation,  and  administered  the 
Lord's  Supper.  I  confirmed  six  adults,  some  of  them  married  persons, 
also  two  youths,  and  baptized  two  children." 

Under  date  of  July  1st,  1743,  he  states  that  he  had  given  instruction 
to  a  person  who  had  belonged  to  the  anabaptists,  afterwards  examined 
him  publicly,  in  the  presence  of  the  congregation,  and  admitted  him 
to  the  Lord's  Supper.  He  adds  the  following  item  under  date  of  No- 
vember, 25, 1743  :  "  I  have  baptized  a  mother  and  her  five  adult  child- 
ren in  the  Church  in  Germantown.  They  were  so  much  afiected  that 
I  might  almost  have  baptized  them  with  their  tears.  At  the  same  place 
I  also  baptized  a  married  man.  Through  the  grace  of  God  these  persons 
seem  to  be  advancing  in  spiritual  strength  and  fruitfulness." 


26  BRIEF    REPORT   OF    CERTAIN 

22.  From  the  foregoing  statements  it  may  be  easily  understood  in 
what  a  deplorable  condition  of  gross  ignorance  Pastor  Muhlenberg 
found  these  congregations ;  seeing  that  they  had  been  totally  without 
instruction  in  the  Divine  word,  their  youth  growing  up  without  proper 
training,  and  even  adults,  and  married  persons,  some  of  them  with 
children  around  them,  having  never  been  baptized.  To  this  he  refers 
in  his  Diary  under  date  of  January  5,  1743:  "  It  seems  as  if  the  time 

has  come  for  God  to  visit  us,  here  in  Pennsylvania,  with  special 
17,  favor.  Indeed,  it  is  high  time.  If  aftairs  had  continued  a  few 
years  longer  as  they  have  been,  our  poor  Lutheran  people  would 
have  wandered  off  completely  into  heathenism.  Some  of  them  have 
never  been  baptized ;  they  have  married,  have  children  around  them, 
and  even  the  children  are  unbaptized ;  besides  this,  the  sects  and  mis- 
leading opinions  that  prevail  are  more  than  can  be  numbered." 

In  the  letter  already  referred  to  as  addressed  to  a  distinguished  theo- 
logian, having  spoken  of  the  different  religious  sects  in  Philadelphia 
and  of  their  churches  and  meeting-houses,  he  adds  as  follows :  "  There 
is  no  lack  of  Atheists,  Deists,  Materialists  and  Free-Masons.^^  In 
short,  there  is  no  sect  in  the  world  that  is  not  cherished  here.  You 
find  people  of  every  nation  on  the  earth,  and  often  what  is  not  tolerated 
in  Europe  asserts  itself  here,  openly.  *  *  *  *  You  may  sometimes 
hear  the  most  shameful  utterances,  against  God  and  his  holy  word,  in 
public  and  unrestrained  *  *  *  Throughout  the  land  there  are  thous- 
ands who,  according  to  their  baptism,  their  training  and  their  con- 
firmation, ought  to  be  Lutherans ,  but,  in  great  measure,  they  have 
strayed  away.  So  sad,  so  degraded  is  the  condition  of  our  poor  Luth- 
eran people  that  you  could  hardly  bewail  it  enough  with  tears  of  blood. 
The  children  are  growing  up,  and  the  parents  often  allow  them  to  live 
on  without  baptism,  without  instruction,  without  training,  and  so  they 
sink  into  heathenism  itself.  *  *  *  Such  w^as  the  state  of  affairs  vrhen 
I  first  came  to  Philadelphia." 

In  a  letter  of  September  22d  he  speaks  to  the  same  effect.  "  The 
great  mass  are  yet  rude  and  uncivilized ;  and  it  may  be  readily  under- 
stood that  the  disorder  and  confusion  that  have  been  prevailing  for 
thirty  years  are  not  to  be  healed  and  corrected  within  the  limits  of  one 
year,"  It  would  be  superfluous  to  add  anything  more,  by  way  of 
illustrating  the  wretched  condition  of  these  congregations,  on  the  arri- 
val of  Pastor  Muhlenberg.  What  we  have  said  may  be  sufficient  to 
make  the  matter  clear. 

23.  Now,  although  it  might  have  seemed  that  the  labors  of  one  soli- 
tary pastor  were  altogether  inadequate  to  the  task  of  restoring  order 


EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES    IN    AMERICA.  27 

not  only  in  one,  but  several  different  congregations,  and  giving  tlicm  a 
start  in  the  direction  of  positive  good ;  yet,  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  sux-)e- 
rior  to  the  infirmity  of  fear,  resolved,  with  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  do 
his  best,  and  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office  with  all  fidelity  and 
with  unwearied  patience,  until  it  should  please  God  to  send  him  the 

requisite  assistance.  Neither  did  the  Lord  withhold  His  blessing. 
(18)  The  hearts  of  the  hearers  were  turned  towards  him,  so  that  they 

received  his  instructions  with  increasing  confidence  and  delight. 
Even  of  those  who  had  strayed  off  to  the  sects,  and  of  those  who  had 
forsaken  the  church  because  they  did  not  w^ant  to  have  anything  to  do 
with  the  unauthorized  teachers  who  had  forced  themselves  on  the 
church,  there  were  many  who  came  back  again  and  seemed  to  enjoy 
the  privilege  of  instruction  in  the  Word  of  God,  with  a  relish  that  was 
so  much  the  more  hearty  and  sincere.  It  may  be  clearly  seen  from 
Y>rhat  has  been  already  said,  that  the  instruction  imparted  to  adults 
and  to  children  was  not  without  the  Divine  blessing. 

Among  other  things,  referring  to  a  woman  of  ninety  years  of  age, 
in  the  congregation  at  New  Hanover,  he  says,  that  during  the  time  of 
her  preparation  for  the  Holy  Supper  she  had  afforded  him  very  great 
encouragement  by  the  simple  and  hearty  manner  in  which  she  gave 
expression  to  her  faith.  He  adds  further,  in  several  letters,  that  Avhat- 
ever  the  annoyances  and  troubles  of  his  ofiice  may  be,  and  however 
confused  the  condition  of  the  congregation,  still  the  Lord  does  bestow 
a  blessing  here  and  there,  the  Word  does  not  return  void;  his  only 
cause  of  regret  being,  that  as  he  has  no  assistant,  he  has  to  operate 
only  upon  the  general  mass  at  random,  and  cannot  bestow^  sufficient 
attention  upon  the  care  of  individual  souls.  In  a  letter  of  November 
25th,  1743,  he  writes:  The  Lord  has  blest  the  work  in  the  congrega- 
tion at  Germantown.  The  Gospel  has  won  over  an  old  grey-headed 
man  who  had  been  a  follower  of  Dippel,^^  and  brought  him  to  the 
knowledge  and  experience  of  complete  reconciliation  in  Christ.  Some 
time  afterwards  he  deceased,  and  his  end  was  blessed.  Pastor  Muh- 
lenberg cherishes  the  hope  that  competent  assistants  will  be  sent  to 
him;  that  the  work  may  be  diligently  prosecuted  and  maintamed. 
Thus,  by  the  Divine  favor,  substantial  improvement  may  be  effected, 
and  the  Lord  will  honor  the  undertaking  with  richer  blessings. 

24.  Now,  as  the  scattered  and  divided  Lutherans  began  to  come  to- 
gether again,  the  rented  house  in  which  they  had  been  holding  their 
meetings  proved  to  be  too  small,  and  they  could  not  expect  to  be  per- 
mitted to  meet  in  the  Swedish  Church  after  the  arrival  of  the  new 
Swedish  pastor,  who  was  then  expected.     In  Providence,  too,  the  ser- 


28  BRIEF    EEPORT    OF    CEETAi:N- 

vices  liad  been  conducted  under  many  disadvantages  in  a  barn,  wliich 
also,  on  account  of  the  increase  of  the  congregation,  soon  proved  to  be 
too  small.  Under  these  circumstances  the  building  of  a  church  for 
each  of  these  congregations  was  felt  to  be  an  absolute  necessity. 

25.  In  Providence  the  undertaking  was  not  so  heavy  as  it  was  in 
Philadelphia;  for  in  the  former  j^lace  the  congregation  was  not  so 
large  as  in  the  latter,  and  would  not  require  as  expensive  a  building. 
Concerning  the  church  in  Providence,  Muhlenberg  has  the  following 
statement  in  his  Diary  under  January  5th,  1743:  "On  Wednes- 
(19)  day,  Jan.  5th,  we  celebrated  Epiphany  in  Providence,  and  I 
preached  again  in  the  barn.  The  people  of  this  congregation 
take  a  very  great  interest  in  the  preaching  of  the  word.  The  worthy 
Elders  have  resolved,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  begin  the  erection  of 
a  church.  I  have  given  public  notice  to  that  effect  twice,  and  encour- 
aged them  to  pray  and  hope  for  the  Divine  blessing.  Indeed,  a  church 
is  in  the  highest  degree  necessary.  I  have  drawn  up  a  piece  of  writ- 
ing upon  the  subject;  and  sent  the  Elders  through  the  congregation, 
with  it,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  subscription,  as  each  member 
might  be  disposed  cheerfully  to  give.  Thank  God,  there  is  no  lack 
here  of  the  means  of  subsistance ;  but  money  is  scarce ;  for  the  people 
living  in  the  country  have  to  haul  all  their  produce  to  the  city  for 
sale,  and  then  obtain  very  little  for  it.  The  timber  that  grows  here  is 
not  suitable  for  building  purposes,  since  it  decays  so  readily ;  and  build- 
ing with  stone  proves  to  be  expensive." 

"  I  enclose,  for  your  information,  the  plan  of  the  church.  According 
to  this  plan,  the  cost  will  be  about  200  pounds  sterling.  The  Lord  has 
stirred  up  the  hearts  of  the  people,  so  that  they  are  very  much  in 
earnest  about  the  building ;  for  after  we  had  gone  through  the  whole 
congregation,  we  found  that  they  had  subscribed  nearly  100  pounds  in 
current  money.  One  pound  sterling  equals  one  and  a  half  of  our  own 
currency.^^  The  congregation  has  truly  endeavored  to  do  its  very  best, 
as  everybody  acknowledges.  To  this  sum  we  hope  yet  to  add  the  one- 
third  of  the  collections  which  your  Excellency  may  have,  which  would 
be  our  share  of  what  may  be  in  your  hands  for  the  three  congregations. 
But  where  shall  we  get  the  balance  that  is  required?  May  the  Lord 
move  the  hearts  of  the  people  in  Europe,  so  that  they  may  render  us 
the  needed  help.  The  members  of  the  congregation  are  all  of  one 
mind.  To  see  them  haul  the  stone  for  the  church  is  a  very  joy  to  me. 
We  have  a  frame  school  house  erected  already." 

"  In  this  township  there  is  already  an  English  Church,  the  Menno- 
nites  also  have  a  meeting-house ;  and  as  there  has  never  been  a  Luth- 


EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES    IN    AMERICA.  29 

eran  Church  here,  we  are  now  about  building  the  first  one.  On  May  1st 
the  masons  expect  to  begin  the  work."  On  June  6th,  1743,  he  writes 
as  follows :  "  On  May  2d  we  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  first  Lutheran 
Church  in  Providence,  and  had  an  immense  concourse  of  people  pres- 
ent, English  as  well  as  Germans.  The  religious  exercises  were  begun 
by  singing  the  hymn  "  Commit  thou  all  thy  ways  and  cares  into  His 
hands,"  then  I  preached  in  German,  on  the  text  Zech.  14,  7  ;  after  this 
I  preached  also  in  English.  By  the  favor  of  the  Lord,  the  masons 
raised  the  walls  to  a  considerable  height  already  at  the  beginning  of 

June ;  and  nothwithstanding  many  difficulties  the  work  still  ad- 
(20)  vances."     Of  like  import  are  the  statements  of  another  letter 

dated  September  22d,  1743.  On  August  31st  the  roof  of  the  new 
church  in  Providence  was  finished,  and  on  September  12th  we  left  the 
barn,  and  held  our  worship,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  new  building.  As 
yet,  it  is  not  quite  finished ;  and  we  do  not  propose  to  consecrate  it 
until  it  has  been  completed,  in  all  its  parts."  Meanwhile,  the  congre- 
gation in  New  Hanover,  being  already  in  possession  of  a  frame  church, 
though  an  unfinished  one,  have  erected  a  school-house,  which,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  was  fit  for  use  about  September  1st. 

26  In  Philadelphia,  however,  many  more  obstacles  had  to  be  over- 
come. It  was  not  only  necessary  to  build  a  much  larger  church,  which 
itself  would  involve  greater  expense,  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
large  Lutheran  population  in  this  great  city  ;  but  suitable  locations  for 
the  church  were  very  scarce,  and  many  evil-disposed  persons  were 
throwing  hindrances  in  the  way.  But  even  here,  by  the  help  of  the 
Lord,  all  opposition  was  overcome,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  following  ex- 
tract from  Muhlenberg's  Diary,  when,  under  date  of  January  18, 1743, 
among  other  things,  he  says :  "  Twenty  or  thirty  years  ago,  a  good 
piece  of  ground  for  a  church  and  a  graveyard,  might  have  been  bought 
^at  a  very  moderate  price.'*  Now,  however,  there  is  hardly  any  for  sale 
*in  the  city ;  or,  at  least,  if  a  small  lot  of  about  an  acre  should  be 
offered,  the  price  demanded  for  it  would  be  some  400,  500  or  600 
pounds,  according  to  its  situation.  True,  a  lot  could  be  more  readily 
secured,  upon  ground  rent ;  but  we  should  have  to  pay,  every  year, 
two  and  a  half,  or  three,  or  four  shillings  sterling,  per  foot.  So,  for  an 
ordinary  lot  of  ground  we  would  have  to  pay  twelve  or  more  pounds 
sterling,  annually,  as  ground  rent.  In  the  meantime,  the  price  of 
land,  whether  on  regular  purchase,  or  on  ground  rent,  is  advancing 
every  day  and  the  number  of  Lutherans  is  increasing  year  by  year. 
The  longer  we  delay  v.  ith  the  building  of  a  church  the  heavier  will  it 
prove  to^be,  and  the  more  difficult  of  accomplishment." 


dU  BRIEF   REPORT   OF   CERTAIN 

*'  We  resolved  therefore  to  bring  all  these  circumstances  to  the  notice 
of  the  congregation ;  and  I  prepared  a  statement  of  some  of  them,  in 
writing.  On  Sundaj^,  January  23,  I  read  this  statement  to  the  con- 
gregation, and  added  that  all  who  were  in  favor  of  building  a  church 
should  remain  after  the  dismission,  and  record  their  names  to  that 
effect.  The  most  of  them  did  remain  and  subscribed  their  names,  with 
the  sums  of  money  they  were  willing  to  give ;  and  the  Lord  favored 
this  beginning  so  much,  that  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  current 
money,  were  at  once  secured.^^  I  then  came  to  an  understanding  with 
the  Elders,  that  they  should,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  begin  to  look 
around  for  a  suitable  place  at  once.  *  *  ^  On  February  18,  1743,  he 
adds,  "  Our  Elders  have  been  most  unwearied  in  their  efforts  to  secure 
a  good  lot  for  the  church  ;  but  without  success.  In  prayer,  I  spread 
the  subject  before  the  Lord,  to  whom  all  things  are  open.  If  it  be  His 
will  that  we  should  have  a  church  in  this  city.  He  will  guide  and  help 
us  to  secure  the  ground  on  which  to  build  it.  *  *  *  On  Saturday, 
March  12tli,  the  Elders  in  Philadelphia  informed  me,  with  great  joy  of 
heart,  that  they  were  now  negotiating  for  a  lot,  the  price  of  which 
would  be  nearly  200  pounds.  This  is  a  much  better  plan  than  to  take 
the  lot  on  ground  rent.  Yet  we  have  enemies  who  are  raising  obstacles 
in  our  way,  and  it  is  uncertain  whether  we  can  get  the  lot.  The 
people,  indeed,  take  a  very  hearty  interect  in  the  building  of  the 
church,  so  that  the  subscriptions  entered  in  our  collection  book  now 
amount  to  more  than  200  pounds,  currency.  If  we  do  not  succeed  in 
building  a  church,  we  can  hardly  expect  to  establish  a  regular  Luth- 
eran congregation.     If  the  Lord  build  not  the  house,  we  cannot  do  it. 

27.  So  far  had  the  preliminary  arrangements,  for  the  building  of  the 
Church  in  Philadelphia,  been  advanced.  Muhlenberg  reports  the 
actual  commencement  of  the  work,  in  a  letter  of  June  6th,  where, 
among  other  things,  he  says:  "In  the  week  before  Easter  God,  in  His 
kindness,  gave  us  a  lot  for  the  Church,  even  in  the  centre  of  the  city.^^ 
It  is  an  excellent  piece  of  ground,  and  has  room  also  for  a  graveyard. 
It  cost  somewhat  over  one  hundred  pounds  sterling;  and  if  we  should 
sell  it  now,  we  could  get  twenty  pounds  sterling  more  than  we  gave. 
The  necessity  of  our  undertaking,  with  the  help  of  God,  to  build  a 
Church  in  Philadelphia,  is  continually  growing  more  and  more  abso- 
lute. If  it  is  not  done,  then  our  Lutheran  congregation,  w^eak  as  it  is, 
will  become  weaker  and  weaker  still,  and  so  die  out  at  last.  On  April 
5th,  we  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  first  German  Lutheran  Church  in 
Philadelphia.  The  Swedish  pastor  of  a  Church,  some  distance  from 
the  city,  who  occasionally  conducts  the  services  in  the  Swedish  Church, 


EVANGELICAL   CHUECHES   IN   AMERICA.  31 

which  is  now  vacant,  was  in  attendance.  The  English  Minister  also, 
had  intended  to  be  there,  but  an  imperative  duty  called  him  off  into 
the  country.  There  was  an  immense  concourse  of  peoj^le  on  the  ground, 
foes  as  well  as  friends. 

"As  we  are  compelled  to  build,  w^e  must,  at  the  same  time,  show  some 
consideration  for  those  who  are  to  come  after  us.  We  have  therefore, 
prudently  fixed  upon  the  following  dimensions ;  viz. :  Length  70  feet, 
breadth  45,  height  27,  without  the  vault  or  arch,  which  will  be  9  feet. 
We  propose  also  to  have  a  tower  for  a  couple  of  bells."  The  cost  of 
the  building  is  estimated  to  be  at  least  800  pounds  sterling.  Our  trust 
is  in  the  Living  God.  The  building  of  a  Church  is  indeed  a 
(22)  heavy  undertaking,  especially  when  the  congregation  is  poor  and 
is  beset  by  foes.  By  the  Grace  of  God,  however,  we  have  been 
helped  so  far,  notwithstanding  our  many  hindrances,  that  the  masons 
had  raised  the  walls  to  the  height  of  one  story  at  the  beginning  of 
June."     Under  July  1st,  he  writes  as  follows: 

"  The  masons  expect  to  finish  the  walls  now,  within  four  weeks.  The 
hand  of  the  Lord  is  in  the  work.  We  have  not  undertaken  it  in  a 
spirit  of  rashness;  but  out  of  absolute  necessity.  The  English  laws 
prevailing  here  do  not  alioAV  any  sect  or  any  religious  party  to  build 
Churches  except  the  Episcopalians,  and  besides  them,  the  Lutherans.^^ 
As  w^e  are  permitted  to  build  a  Church,  w^e  must  erect  also  a  tower  for 
bells;  and  this  will  reach  an  elevation  of  85  feet.  Our  opponents  have 
been  expecting  that  we  would  be  cast  into  prison  and  put  to  shame,  on 
account  of  our  not  being  able  to  pay  for  the  work."  In  another  letter 
he  says:  "The  expense,  estimated  with  the  greatest  care,  will  amount 
to  five  thousand  five  hundred  Eix  dollars,  German  money.  In  putting 
up  such  buildings,  the  English  mechanics  will  not  do  the  first  stroke, 
until  some  one,  either  in  writing  or  orally,  has  made  himself  responsi- 
ble for  the  payment.  Accordingly,  four  of  our  Deacons  have  united 
and  taken  upon  themselves  all  responsibility  for  the  building.  These 
men  are  not  wealthy ;  but  they  are  men  of  sincere  heart  and  they  ven- 
ture to  trust  in  the  Lord.  Our  Lutheran  brethren  in  the  town  of  Lan- 
caster, 60  miles  from  Philadelphia,  have  given  us  100  Rix  dollars, 
German  money." 

28.  At  last,  Muhlenberg,  in  a  letter  of  Nov.  25th,  1743,  reports  the 
finishing  of  the  walls  and  the  roofing  in  the  following  words:  "In  the 
midst  of  these  trials,  the  Lord  has  so  graciously  prospered  the  work  on 
the  Church  in  Philadelphia,  that  it  is  now  roofed  in,  and  the  tower 
also  has  been  erected.  In  this  there  seems  to  be  something  of  a  Divine 
appointment ;  for,  as  the  Swedes  have  now  their  own  pastor,^^  they  will 


32  BRIEF    REPORT    OF    CERTAIN 

occupy  their  Church  themselves,  and  can  no  longer  accommodate  us ; 
the  shortness  of  the  days  also  forbidding  it.  As  yet  we  have  no  sash 
in  the  windows,  and  the  scaffolding  yet  stands  inside ;  but  we  have 
closed  up  twenty-eight  windows  and  three  doors  with  boards ;  and  to 
my  great  joy  and  that  of  many  others,  we  worshipped  in  it  for  the  first 
time  on  Oct.  20th,  the  25th  Sunday  after  Trinity.  What  a  blessing 
this  is,  in  a  strange  land,  where  wickedness  so  much  abounds !  Our 
enemies  have  been  hoping  all  along,  that  the  foui*  men  who  made  them- 
selves responsible  for  the  payment  would  be  cast  into  prison  for 
(23)  the  debt*"  before  the  work  had  advanced  as  far  as  it  has.  On 
this  occasion  also  we  sang  the  beautiful  hymn  '  Commit  thou  all 
thy  ways  and  cares  into  His  hands.'  Instead  of  the  Epistle  I  read  the 
4th  Chapt.  oi'  the  1st  Book  of  Maccabees,  from  verse  36th  to  the  end ; 
after  this  I  explained  the  prayer  of  Solomon,  in  1st  Kings,  8th  Chapt., 
from  the  22d  verse." 

Certain  collections  of  money  have  been  placed  in  our  hands,  from 
which  the  travelling  expenses  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg  have  been  taken ;" 
also,  we  deduct  wdiat  will  be  necessary  to  send  some  additional  labor- 
ers to  assist  him  in  the  work ;  the  balance  that  remains  has  been  de- 
voted to  the  building  of  these  two  Churches  in  Philadelphia  and  Provi- 
dence, and,  in  fact,  it  has  been  already  transmitted  to  Pennsylvania. 
True,  it  is  far  from  being  enough  to  meet  all  the  cost  of  such  expensive 
undertakings ;  especially  since  a  very  considerable  sum  will  yet  be  re- 
quired to  furnish  the  w  indoAV-sash,  the  doors,  and  such  conveniences  as 
the  inside  of  the  Churches  may  need.  In  view  of  all,  hoAvever,  our 
trust  is  that  the  loving  kindness  of  the  Lord  will  supply  all  that  may 
yet  be  required. 

29.  As  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  in  all  his  letters,  plead  the  necessity  for 
assistant  laborers  in  the  congregations  and  the  schools,  and  as  his  pleas 
were  enforced  by  the  entreaties  of  the  people  themselves,  the  Lord  re- 
garded the  prayer  of  his  servants,  and  heard  his  children's  cry.  He 
so  disposed  matters,  that  a  well-qualified  Candidate  of  Theology,  Mr. 
Peter  Brunnholtz,"^  a  native  of  Nuebuel,  a  village  of  Gliicksburg  in 
Schleswig,  was  proposed  for  this  position,  with  the  approbation  of  all 
who  understood  the  state  of  affairs  in  Pennsylvania,  and  were  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Brunnholtz's  gifts  and  fidelity.  He  had  not  only  laid  a  solid 
foundation  in  theological  study,  and  endeavored  to  maintain  the  mys- 
tery of  the  faith  in  a  pure  conscience ;  but  also,  after  completing  his 
University  course,  he  had  given  evidence  of  his  capacity  and  faithful- 
ness, as  teacher  in  the  service  of  a  Christian  nobleman,  as  a  preacher 
of  the  word  and  as  a  pastor  in  the  special  care  of  souls.     Having  de- 


EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES    IX    AMERICA.  33 

voutly  submitted  the  whole  subject  to  the  Divine  disposal,  he  declared 
himself  willing  to  accept  the  call  given  to  him  by  Prof.  Dr.  Francke 
ia  the  name  of  the  congregations  in  Pennsylvania.  Then  followed  his 
examination  by  the  Consistory  at  Wcrnigerode;  on  April  12th,  1744, 
he  was  ordained  in  the  Castle-Church  in  that  place,  and  immediately 
set  out  for  Hamburg,  passing  through  Hanover.  Two  others,  worthy 
students  of  Theology,  Mr.  Schaum  and  Mr.  Kurtz,  both  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Giessen,  expressed  a  readiness  equal  to  that  of  Mr.  Brun- 
holtz,  to  engage  in  the  work.  They  were  received  as  teachers ;  and 
following  him  to  Hamburg,  on  July  1st,  they  all  set  off  together 
(24)  on  their  journey  to  Pennsylvania  by  way  of  England.*^ 

30.  The  selection  and  the  calling  of  these  several  assistants,  and 
the  occasion  of  their  departure  w^ere  attended  with  such  prominent 
tokens  of  Divine  Providence,  that  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt  but 
that  it  is  the  gracious  purpose  of  God,  who  commanded  the  light  to 
shine  out  of  darkness,  to  cause  a  brighter  day  to  rise  upon  the  congre- 
gations in  Pennsylvania,  so  that  by  the  ministry  of  the  pastors  who 
have  been  sent  to  them,  they  may  be  brought  into  the  light  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ. 

After  it  had  become  known,  in  divers  places,  that  Pastor  JMuhlen- 
berg  had  already  begun  his  labors,  and  that  certain  assistants  were 
about  to  be  sent  out  to  him,  the  hearts  of  many  kind  jd arsons  were 
moved  so  much  as  that  they  contributed  enough  not  only  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  journey  of  the  assistants  t )  England,  but  also  to  leave 
in  our  hands  40  pounds  sterling  over.  Besides  all  this,  an  excellent 
Christian  lady,  who  is  very  deeply  interested  in  this  work,  had  sent  to 
England  547  Rix-dollars,^'^  which,  when  added  to  the  moneys  yet  in 
our  hands,  will  be  used  to  defray  the  rest  of  the  travelling  expenses  of 
the  assistants;  and  then  whatever  remains  will  be  applied  to  pay  for 
the  building  of  the  churches  above  described. 

For  all  these  benefactions  we  here,  again,  offer  our  hearty  thanks  to 
all  of  our  distinguished  and  excellent  friends,  humbly  praying  that 
God  may  grant  them  every  blessing  both  for  time  and  for  eternity. 
Further,  our  trust  is  in  God,  in  whose  hand  are  the  hearts  of  men, 
that  He  will  arouse  many  more  benefactors  to  help  this  blessed  work 
forward  by  their  hearty  and  cheerful  co-operation.  Whoever  takes 
any  sincere  interest  in  the  extension  of  the  Divine  kingdom  and  in  the 
salvation  of  souls  will  surely  be  encouraged,  by  this  short  report,  sin- 
cerely to  thank  God  for  the  favors  already  granted,  to  ask  His  presence 
and  protection  for  the  assistant  pastor  and  the  two  teachers  who  are 
now  on  their  journey,  and  to  implore,  in  childlike  confidence,  a  con- 
3 


34  :n'otes  ox  the  (first)  brief  report. 

tinuation    of   the    Divine    blessing   upon   all   tlieir   ministr}"   in   the 
Church. 

May  He  who  is  able  to  do  far  more  than  we  can  ask  or  think,  guide 
these  brethren  upon  their  journey;  and,  under  His  protection,  bring 
them  to  their  desired  port  in  safety  and  in  peace.  May  He  bless  their 
labors  so  that  many  souls  may  be  delivered  from  the  power  of  darkness 
and  translated  into  the  kingdom  of  His  own  Dear  Son,  for  the  Glory 
of  His  Name,  Amen. 


NOTES  ON  THE  (FIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT. 


^  A  large  part  of  this  First  '^ Brief  Report  is  printed  in  Acta  Hist.  Eccles.,  Vol. 
IX,  pp.  891-915.  The  friends  at  Halle  were  certainly  not  displeased  to  find  tlieir 
communications  transferred  to  the  pages  of  other  periodicals.  The  several  ''Con- 
tinuations" were  presented  in  like  manner,  in  the  woi-k  named  above,  and  in  other 
German  publications.  As  the  men  to  whose  labors  tliis  Brief  Eeport  refers,  are 
not  so  often  brought  fonvard  to  speak  in  their  own  persons,  the  Report  consisting 
mainly,  of  general  statements  based  upon  their  letters  and  journals,  we  are  under 
the  weightier  obligations  to  Dr.  W.  Germaxn  for  the  information  bearing  di- 
rectly upon  this  Eeport,  with  which  he  has  supplied  us,  and  which  he  has  drawn 
immecUately  from  the  Archives  of  the  Franckeschen  Anstalten,  at  Halle. 

"^  The  reasons  for  the  emigration  from  Germany  at  that  time  are  explained  in 
the  work  of  Prof.  Dr.  O.  Seidensticker,  already  referred  to,  "Geschichte  der  Deut- 
schen  Gesellschaft  von  Pa.,"  p.  10,  seq.  See  also  Franz  Loher,  "Geschichte  und 
Zustiinde  der  Deutschen  in  Amerika,"  Cincinnati,  1847,  p.  31,  seq. 

^  He  himself  wrote  his  name  Penx.  Before  his  time,  in  England,  when  the 
name  occurred  in  combination,  it  was  written  with  one  n,  e.  g.,  Penrith.  A  map, 
prepared  in  the  time  of  Penn,  exhibiting  New  Sweden,  or  the  existing  settle- 
ments of  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware,  has  Pensylvania.  It  is  very  clear  that 
Canada,  as  referred  to  in  the  text,  included  more  than  the  whole  British  territory 
along  the  Eastern  coast  of  America  Avhich  was  transferred  from  the  sovereignty  of 
France  to  that  of  England  by  the  Peace  of  Paris  in  1763.  When  we  read  that 
Charles  II  gave  Pennsylvania  to  the  wealthy  Quaker,  AVilliam  Penn,  we  should 
not  forget  that  the  English  Government  owed  the  family  of  Penn  a  debt  of  16,000 
pounds  sterling,  from  the  time  of  Admiral  Sir  Vrilliam  Penn,  the  father  of  Wilham 
Penn.  For  a  just  estimate  of  the  character  of  William  Penn,  the  son,  and  of  Qua- 
kerism in  general,  we  refer  to  the  thorough  and  very  instructive  work  of  Herman 
Weingarten,  ''Die  Eevolutionskirchen  Englands,"  Leipzig,  1868. 

*  Of  this  there  are  amjole  proofs  in  the  continued  statements  of  the  Halle  Ee- 


NOTES   ON   THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF   REPORT.  35 

ports,  e.  g.,  In  section  G,  in  sections  IG,  17  of  the  2(1  Continuation,  in  sections  48, 
60  of  the  fourtli,  iu  Pastor  H.  M.  Mulilenberg's  Keport  of  his  official  acts  for  1747 
in  the  oth  Continuation,  etc.,  etc. 

^  Queen  Anne,  tJie  daughter  of  James  II,  was  the  last  of  the  House  of  Stuart ; 
and  having  outlived  her  husband  Prince  George  of  Denmarlc,  and  her  children, 
she  died  in  1714.  George  I,  her  successor,  married  to  Sophia  Dorothea  of  Bruus- 
•wick-Liineburg-Celle  in  1682,  and  separated  from  her  after  1694,  was  the  son  of  the 
Elector  Ernst  August  and  of  Sophia  (died  June  18th,  1714),  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Frederick  of  the  Palatinate  and  granddaughter  of  James  I  of 
England.  Accordingly,  at  the  death  of  Anne,  George  I  ascended  the  throne,  by 
virtue  of  an  Act  of  Parliament  of  1701,  which  ordained  that  the  Protestant  de- 
scendants of  Sophia  should  succeed  to  the  throne  of  England  and  Ireland,  in  tlie 
event  of  the  death  of  Queen  Anne,  without  issue.  George  I  was  not  familiar  with 
the  English  language ;  and  originally  was  outwardly  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Divine  Avorship  was,  and  still  is,  conducted  in  St.  James'  Chapel,  accord- 
ing to  the  ritual  of  the  Church  of  England,  in  the  German  language.  This  may 
be  the  more  readily  understood  from  the  fact  that  all  through  the  Eighteenth  Cen- 
tury, and  even  until  tlie  accession  of  Victoria,  the  sovereigns  of  England  were  also 
kings  of  Hannover.  Besides,  tliere  was  a  new  accession  of  the  German  element 
in  the  royal  family  under  George  II,  1727-1760,  when  the  Prince  of  Wales  mar- 
ried a  Princess  of  Saxe-Gotha,  and  a  like  event  has  occurred  in  more  recent  times, 
by  the  marriage  of  Queen  Victoria  to  Prince  Albert.  In  view  of  these  facts  we 
can  understand  why  Lutheran  Court  Preachers  are  found  officiating  in  the  Court 
Chapel  of  St.  James.  The  royal  family,  which,  as  required  by  act  of  Parliament, 
belongs  to  the  Church  of  England,  did  not  usually  attend  the  German  service ;  it 
was  attended,  however,  by  Lutheran  members  of  the  German  Embassies  in  Lon- 
don. The  French  language  was  the  usual  vehicle  of  conversation  at  the  English 
Court,  as  it  was  at  so  many  European  Courts  during  the  last  century.  In  Muhlen- 
berg's Journal,  Aug.  22d,  1762,  Halle  Eeports,  10th  Continuation,  Ave  are  informed 
that  Pastor  Frederick  Kothenbiihler  removed  from  New  York  and  took  charge  of 
the  German  Eeformed  Congregation  at  Philadelphia  in  1762.  This  congregation, 
acting  upon  the  advice  of  some  Episcopal  pastors,  addressed  a  petition  to  the  Arch- 
bishoiDS  of  Canterbury  and  York,  and  the  Bishop  of  London,  under  date  of  Oct. 
21st,  1764.  We  here'insert  an  extract  from  that  petition:  "And  Ave  do  furtlier 
ordain  and  settle  it  as  a  fundamental  constitution  of  the  said  Church  and  Congre- 
gation, that  the  liturgy  and  service  of  the  Church  of  England,  or  a  translation 
thereof  in  the  German,  as  used  in  the  King's  German  Chapel,  and  none  else,  be 
used  in  the  said  congregation  of  the  said  Church."  See  Life  and  Corresp.  of  Eev. 
W.  Smith,  by  H.  W.  Smith.  Philadelphia,  1879,  Vol.  I,  p.  360.  The  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  first  sketched  by  Cranmer  and  other  Theologians,  on  the  basis 
of  old  English  liturgies,  specially  that  of  Salisbury,  old  Sarum,  in  1549,  and  after- 
wards improved  bv  the  diligent  use  of  the  "Eeformationsordnung,"  prepared  by 
Bucer  in  1543,  with  the  aid  of  Melanchton,  for  the  use  of  the  Prince  Bishop 
Herman  of  Cologne,  Avas  published  in  German,  quarto,  at  Frankfort  on  the  Oder, 
in  1704;  it  Avas  also  printed  at  Dublin.  (Herman  of  Cologne  AA'as  born  in  1477, 
became  bishop  in  1515 ;  after  unsuccessful  attempts  to  introduce  the  Eeformation 
into  his  territories,  he  resigned  his  office,  and  died  in  1552.)  The  pastor  of  the 
Danish  Congregation  in  Dublin,  in  the  last  century,  was  accustomed  to  preach  in 


36  NOTES    ox    THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

the  Danish  and  German  languages,  alternately.  See  "Acta.  Hist.  Eccles.  Xostri 
Temporis,"  Vol.  XII,  p.  655,  ff.  An  improved  translation  appeared  in  1718  at  the 
Plague,  "promoted  by  the  intelligent  zeal  of  Her  Royal  Highness,  the  Princess  of 
Wales,  and  at  Her  gracious  command."  published  by  C.  Fritsch,  8vo,  1718.  The 
preface  claims  that  this  is  the  third  edition,  marked  by  many  improvements  and 
recommended  by  the  Society  "de  propagando  Evangelio."  The  X.  Y.  Bible  and 
Book  of  Common  Prayer  Society  published  a  German  translation  in  1855. 

6  He  was  born  in  1694  ;  and,  in  his  office,  was  the  successor  of  Anton  W.  Bohme, 
whom  we  shall  meet  after  a  while.  (See  7th  Continuation,  Muhlenberg's  Report, 
July  21st,  1751.)  He  belonged,  as  did  Bohme  himself,  to  the  religious  school  of 
Speiier  and  of  Halle.  Ai^er  it  had  been  seriously  intended  to  send  him  as  mis- 
sionary to  East  India,  the  influence  of  A.  H.  Francke  secured  for  him  a  call  to 
the  Royal  Chapel  of  St.  James'  Palace  in  London,  in  1722.  In  1772  he  celebrated, 
in  that  place,  his  fiftieth  anniversary,  his  official  jubilee,  on  which  occasion  Pastor 
Burgmann,  of  the  Church  of  St.  Mary,  the  Savoy  in  London,  so  well  known, 
preached  on  Ps.  92:  14,  15:  "The  old  age  of  the  righteous  is  blessed."  This 
sermon,  accompanied  with  an  engraved  likeness  of  the  venerable  pastor,  was 
printed  in  London  in  1773.  Ziegenhagen,  who  had  never  married,  died  of  debility, 
January  24th,  1776,  in  his  83d  year.  He  was  a  zealous  promoter  of  the  Missions 
in  East  India  and  in  X^orth  America,  and,  by  his  last  will  and  testament,  be- 
queathed his  property  to  the  Mission.  We  shall  often  have  occasion  to  notice  his 
friendly  interest,  especially  on  behalf  of  the  missionaries  who  were  sent  from 
Halle  to  the  Lutherans  in  Xorth  America.  He  was  active  also  as  an  author  of 
devotional  works.  The  Salzburg  Lutherans,  who  settled  at  Ebenezer  in  Georgia, 
sang  hymns  composed  by  him.  His  Short  Exposition  of  the  Lord's  Prayer  was 
not  unknown  in  the  Xew  World;  and  in  the  10th  Continuation,  Halle.  X^achr,, 
Xo.  VI,  Pastor  Muhlenberg  refers  to  certain  "tables"  Avhich  Ziegenhagen  had  pre- 
pared, to  be  used  in  the  study  of  the  Catechism.  A  biographical  sketch  of  him, 
accompanied  with  an  engraved  likeness,  may  be  found  in  the  preface  to  Vol.  II 
of  the  "More  Recent  History  of  the  Missions  in  East  India,"  Halle,  1783.  See 
also  "  Kirchen-Geschichte  of  the  German  Congregations  in  London,  etc.,"  by  Dr. 
John  G.  Burkhardt,  pastor  of  the  German  Lutheran  Congregation  in  the  Savoy 
(London) ;  Tuebingen,  1798,  p.  78.  Ziegenhagen  had  a  large  correspondence  Avith 
distinguished  persons  and  scholars  in  many  countries ;  especially  Avith  those  with 
whom  his  official  position  and  his  activity  in  the  cause  of  missions  might  bring 
liim  into  connection.  During  his  sojourn  in  London,  Ritter  Michaelis  made 
his  home  in  Ziegenhagen's  house ;  and,  according  to  his  own  confession,  was  in- 
debted to  him  for  his  first  stages  of  advancement  in  Exegesis  and  Dogmatics.  He 
made  no  secret  of  his  dissatisfaction  with  the  arts  and  practices  of  the  Moravians 
of  his  day,  and  refused  to  admit  Bishop  Zinzendorf  into  his  pulpit.  His  crowning 
glory  is  his  laborious  zeal  on  behalf  of  the  Missions  in  East  India  and  X'^orth 
America.  His  assistant  and  amanuensis,  Pasche,  came  into  possession  of  his 
manuscripts,  and  edited  and  published  most  of  his  writings. 

''  At  that  time  copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  could  be  obtained  in  the  American 
Provinces  only  by  being  imported.  What  was  done  on  this  behalf  by  the  "  Can- 
stein.  Bibelanstalt"  of  Halle,  shall  be  stated  hereafter.  See  8th  Continuation, 
Halle.  Xachr.,  letter  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz,  March  16th,  1752.  The  first  German 
Bible  published  in  the  Xew  World,  was  printed  by  Christopher  Saver,  in  Ger- 


i 


XOTES    ON    THE    (fIKSt)    ERIEF    EEPORT.  37 

mantown,  near  .Philadelphia,  in  1743,  the  very  j-ear  in  which  H.  M.  Muhlenberg 
began  his  labors  iu  this  country.  A  second  edition  appeared  in  1763  and  a  third 
in  1776.  Luther's  Small  Catechism  wns  published  by  Benjamin  Franklin  in  1749. 
The  Marburg  Hymn  Book  was  used  in  very  many  Lutheran  Congregations ;  in 
some,  however,  other  hymn  books  were  used,  as  for  instance  the  Wernigerode 
Collection,  by  the  Salzburg  Congregations  in  Georgia;  whilst  in  other  places  the 
admirable  Wiirttemberg  Collection  of  1742,  or  the  Cothen  Collection,  was  adopted. 
The  first  hymn  book  published  officially  by  authority  of  the  Church  in  America 
appeared  in  1786,  under  the  title:  "Erbauliche  Liedersammlung  xum  gottesdien.~t- 
lichen  Gebrauch  in  den  Yereinigten  Lutherischen  Gemeinden  in  Nord  America; 
gesammelt,  eingerichtet  und  zum  Druck  belordert  durch  die  gesammten  Glieder 
des  Iiiesigen  Yereinigten  Evangelisch-Lutherischen  Ministeriums.  Erste  Auflaye. 
Germantown,  gedruckt  bei  Leibert  und  Billmeyer,  1786,"  (706  hymns).  In  the 
same  year  appeared  the  first  "  Kirchen-Agende  der  Evangelisch-Lutherischen 
Yereinigten  Gemeinen  in  Nord  Amerika.  Philadelphia,  gedruckt  bei  Melchior 
Steiner,  in  der  Reesstrasse,  1786."     Svo.     Pp.  58. 

^  This  name,  so  often  mentioned,  occurs  als©  in  the  list  of  81  persons,  adults  and 
minors,  natives  of  the  Palatinate,  who,  on  Oct.  14th,  1731,  arrived  in  Philadelphia 
in  the  ship  "Snow  Louther,"  Cajat.  Jos.  Fisher,  having  gone  from  Rotterdam  to 
Dover.  Weisiger  made  another  voyage,  upon  some  confidential  mission,  to  Eng- 
land, Holland  and  Germany,  two  years  afterwards.  See  J.  J).  Rupp's  30,000 
Names,  etc.,  German  and  English  edition,  I.  Kohler,  Philadelphia,  1876,  p.  72; 
also  8th  Continuation  Halle.  Nachr.,  also  IX  Gemeinschaftl.  Schreiben,  etc.,  1754, 
fourth  period.  In  this  historical  statement  John  Chr.  Schultze,  mentioned  in  ^  9, 
is  again  referred  to.    See  Appendix  to  this  first  Brief  Report. 

^  This  periodical,  so  to  designate  it,  appeared  between  1731  and  1741,  in  divers 
series,  c.  g.,  Collections,  Sup]3lements,  Continued  Collections,  Improved  Collections, 
Continued  contributions,  etc.;  Frankfurt  and  Leipzig,  12  vols.;  after  1735  at 
Leipzig  alone.  It  represented  chiefly  the  matters  of  controversy  between  Lutlieran 
Orthodoxy  as  maintained  especially  by  Yal.  E.  Loscher,  (Unschuldige  Nachrich- 
ten ;  Evang.  Zehnden ;  Friili  aufgelesene  Friichte ;  Ilistoria  Motuum,  Timotheus 
Yerinus,  Annalis  Theolog.)  and  Pietism  as  advocated  by  the  Theologians  of  Halle, 
(Aufrichtige  Nachricht,  etc.,  von  Joachim  Lange,  1706,  K,  im  Gegensatz  gegen 
die  Unschuld.  Nachr. ;  desselben  Antibarbarus  Orthodoxise ;  die  Hallesche  Biblio- 
thek;  Wochen-Xachrichten  aus  Halle,  u.  A.)  This  kind  of  literature  found  new 
material  at  that  time  in  the  rise  of  Moravianism,  and  of  the  philosophy  of  Wolf; 
also  in  the  oj^eraticms  of  the  Separatists  and  of  the  Inspirationists  (Eberh.  L. 
Gruber,  Andr.  Gross,  John  Fr.  Rock,  J.  A.  Gruber,  Schwanfelder,  D.  E.  Mackinet). 
The  last  named  was  naturalized  at  Philadelphia  in  1730,  and  in  his  75th  year  be- 
came secretary  of  the  German  Society  at  Philadelphia,  occupying  that  position 
from  1764  to  1774.  He  died  June  20th,  1775.  See  Prof.  Dr.  Seidensticker's  Ge- 
schichte  der  Deutschen  Gesellschaft,  1876,  p.  290.  Max  Gobel,  the  highest  author- 
ity in  the  history  of  the  Inspirationists,  represents  him  as  a  member  of  that  party. 
Why  W.  C.  Reichel,  in  "Memor.  of  the  Moravian  Church,"  Ch.  I,  p.  160,  puts 
him  among  the  Schwenckfelders  is  not  exactly  clear.  The  Chiliastic  Sect,  the  so- 
called  Philadelphia  Society,  Avhich,  starting  in  England,  spread  its  branches  in  so 
many  directions,  also  furnished  its  contribution  to  the  literature  of  the  times 
(GeistUche  Fama,  1730-1736,  published  by  Dr.  Carl,  who,  in  1728,  had  separated 


38  NOTES    ON    THE    (fIESt)    BRIEF    REPOPvT. 

from  the  Inspirationists).  Divers  other  publications  claimed  to  be  only  plain 
statements  of  fact,  e.  g.,  "Acta  Eruditorum,"  "Der  Aiisfiihrl.  Bericht  von  alierlei 
neuen  Biichern,"  "Der  unpartheyische  Bibliothekarius,"  Leipzig,  1713,  etc.,  etc. 
"The  Acta  Hist.  Ecclesiast.,"  52  vols,  in  several  series,  began  in  1734,  From 
many  an  antiquated  volume  among  the  works  just  referretl  to,  there  falls,  here 
and  there,  some  ray  of  illumination  upon  statements  found  in  our  Halle  Reports. 
The  whole  period  was  deeply  agitated  in  its  religious  bearings.  Beyond  what  has 
been  already  mentioned  it  was  marked  by  the  awakening  of  the  missionary  spirit 
in  the  Evangelical  Church;  by  the  banishment  of  Evangelical  Christians  from 
Salzburg;  their  hospitable  reception  in  Germany;  especially  in  Prussia,  and  their 
emigration  to  Georgia  in  North  America ;  the  publication  of  the  rationalistic,  so- 
called  Wertheim  translation  of  the  Bible,  and,  as  an  indication  of  the  reaction  of 
Mysticism  against  the  Church  and  Orthodoxy,  the  publication  of  the  Berleburg 
Bible;  the  profane  utterances  of  that  strange  Cynic,  J.  C.  Edelman  (Christian 
Democritus)  Dippel,  etc.  It  was  the  time  of  the  Buttlar  rabble,  1705,  in  Wittgen- 
stein and  Paderborn  and  of  the  Eller  crowd  in  Ronsdorf,  and  of  the  fanatics  at 
Briigglen  and  other  places  in  Switzerland,  etc.  In  short,  it  was  a  golden  age  of 
Separatism. 

^°  The  characters  here  mentioned  may  be  briefly  described  as  follows :  J.  G. 
Pfeiffer,  Prof,  of  Theology,  is  well-known,  especially  for  his  renewed  publica- 
tion of  the  "  Paraenesis  votiva  pro  pace  Ecclesise  ad  Theologos  August.  Confessi- 
onis,"  which  he  presented  in  his  "Miscellanea  Theologica,"  1736,  which  under 
the  still  mysterious  name  of  Rupertus  Meldenius,  must  certainly  have  originated 
in  the  year  1635,  since  quotations  from  it  may  be  traced  back  to  that  year.  He 
maintained,  indeed,  the  dogmatic  positions  of  the  Formula  of  Concord,  firmly; 
but  opposed  the  asperity  that  prevailed  in  the  theological  controversies  of  his  day, 
and  was  in  harmony  with  John  Arndt. 

GoTTHELF  August  Francke,  one  of  the  most  rigid  representatives  of  that 
kind  of  Pietism  that  seeks  to  control  all  the  relations  of  life  by  a  direct  religious- 
ness, and  finds  its  object,  rather  in  the  mortification  than  in  the  sanctification  of 
what  is  natural.  He  was  Dr.  Theolog.,  Senior  Prof,  of  the  Theolog.  Faculty  and 
of  the  Ministerium  at  Halle,  Director  of  the  Royal  Paedagogium  and  of  the  Or- 
phan House  at  the  same  place,  son  of  the  more  illustrious  founder  of  these  institu- 
tions, August  Herman  Francke,  and  his  wife,  Anna  Magd.  von  Wurmb,  and, 
through  his  only  sister,  the  brother-in-law  of  John  Anast.  Freylinghausen.  He 
was  born  March  21st,  1696,  two  years  before  the  founding  of  the  Orphan  House. 
On  the  occasion  of  the  jubilee  or  50th  anniversary  of  the  Institutions  at  Halle, 
1748,  he  had  abundant  reason  for  commemorating  also  the  great  blessings  which, 
proceeding  from  Halle,  had  so  plentifully  refreshed  the  Lutheran  congregations 
in  North  America.  (Acta  Eccles.  Hist.,  Vol.  XIII,  p.  602.)  He  was  educated  at 
the  Pfedagogium  in  Halle,  and  after  1714,  at  the  University.  Three  years  after- 
wards he  undertook  a  journey,  yet  did  not  go  beyond  the  limits  of  Germany ;  but 
attended  the  University  of  Jena,  where  J.  Fr.  Buddeus  was  Professor  at  the 
time.  After  a  public  disputation,  February,  1720,  under  the  direction  of  Bud- 
deus, he  returned  to  Halle,  first  acted  as  Prison-Chaplain,  and  was  afterwards  or- 
dained, in  liis  25th  year.  In  1723  he  became  Adjunctus  in  the  "  Frauenkirche " 
at  Halle,  was  appointed  Principal  of  the  Latin  School,  and,  in  general,  rendered 
much  assistance  to  his  father  in  directing  the  several  institutions  he  had  founded 


NOTES    ON    THE    (FIEST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  39 

in  that  city.  In  1726  he  was  appointed  extraordinary  Professor,  in  1727  ordinary 
Professor  of  Theology ;  and,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  in  the  same  year  he  be- 
came Director  of  the  Psedagogium  and  of  the  Orphan  House.  The  next  year  lie 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  English  Society,  "  De  propaganda  Christi  cognitione." 
In  1738  he  was  appointed  Deacon,  and  in  1740  Archdeacon,  of  the  *'  Frauenkirche." 
In  1739  he  was  made  a  Dr.  of  Theology ;  at  the  same  time  the  dignity  of  Inspector 
of  the  district  of  the  Saal,e  was  conferred  upon  him.  He  was  appointed  "Obercon- 
sistorialrath"  in  1767.  As  an  academic  teacher  he  was  distinguished  by  the  accu- 
racy of  his  instructions,  and  by  the  practical  influence  he  brought  to  bear  upon 
his  students.  Twice  a  week,  for  more  than  thirty  years,  he  delivered  exegetico- 
ascetic  lectures  in  the  great  hall  of  the  Orphan  House ;  and  as  long  as  he  lived  he 
continued  the  exegetico-parsenetic  lectures  of  his  father,  by  whom  he  was  far  ex- 
celled in  spirit  and  in  enterprise.  Many  of  his  lectures  and  of  his  theological  dis- 
cussions have  been  published.  He  was  conscientious,  to  an  unusual  degree,  in  the 
discharge  of  his  official  duties ;  and,  multiplied  as  they  were,  he  still  found  time 
to  take  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  Missions  in  different  portions  of  the  world. 
This  circumstance  proved  to  be  of  great  advantage  specially  to  Pennsylvania  and 
to  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  New  World.  As  a  co-worker  in  this  labor  of  love, 
the  noble  Ziegenhagen,  of  London,  was  ever  at  his  side.  For  years  he  superin- 
tended the  editing  and  publication  of  Missionary  Reports  from  the  East  Indies, 
and  of  our  own  Halle  Reports.  (The  publication  of  the  East  India  Reports  is 
continued  until  this  day  under  the  supervision  of  our  honored  colleague,  in  this 
present  work.  Dr.  W.  Germann.)  At  the  time  of  the  death  of  Francke  the  11th 
Continuation  was  being  prepared  for  the  press.  He  died  Sept.  2d,  1769.  His 
published  works  were  quite  numerous:  e.  g.,  seven  University  Programmes,  1729- 
37 ;  twenty-five  sermons  and  discussions,  1724-51 ;  eleven  theological  disserta- 
tions, 1729-46;  contributions  in  the  Weekly  Advertiser  of  Halle,  1746-62,  etc., 
etc.  He  also  wrote  Introductions  for  divers  books,  edited  new  editions  of  old  works 
and  prepared  German  translations  from  English  authors. 

Samuel  Urlsperger  was  Court  Preacher  of  Eberhard  Ludwig,  Duke  of 
Wiirttemberg,  who,  after  the  manner  of  the  princes  of  the  times,  was  openly  living 
in  adultery  with  the  notorious  Countess  of  Griivenitz.  On  Good  Friday,  1718, 
Urlsperger  preached  before  the  assembled  Court,  and  at  the  instigation  of  Aug. 
Herm.  Francke,  who  was  then  visiting  Stuttgart,  his  sermon  was  so  keen  and  de- 
cided, that  he  drew  down  upon  himself  the  full  force  of  the  Duke's  displeasure, 
was  dismissed  from  his  office,  and  so  continued  for  several  years.  In  1722,  how- 
ever, he  was  appointed  Superintendent  in  Herrenberg.  In  the  same  year,  a  call 
having  been  prepared  to  St.  James'  Chapel  in  London,  a  post  of  which  Ziegen- 
hagen immediately  took  charge,  Urlsperger  accepted  a  call  to  Augsburg,  after  lie 
had  with  some  difficulty  obtained  permission  to  emigrate  from  Wiirttemberg 
to  Bavaria.  But  he  was  heartily  welcomed  at  the  free  Reichstadt  of  Augs- 
burg ;  and  afterwards  became  Senior  of  the  Lutheran  clergy  in  that  city.  (See 
Nova  Acta  Hist.  Eccles.,  Vol.  V.,  p.  721,  etc.)  To  his  diligence  we  owe  a  work 
we  shall  meet  with  after  a  while,  under  the  title  "  Ausfiihrliche  Nachrichten  von 
den  Salzburgischen  Emigranten  in  Amerika,"  published  by  the  Orphan  House, 
Halle.  Eighteen  "Continuations"  appeared  from  1735  till  1752.  We  must  say 
the  same  of  a  work  which  appeared  in  four  parts  between  1754  and  1767,  under 
the  title  "  Americanische  Ackerwerk  Gottes,"  Augsburg,  and  which  reports  also 


40  XOTES  ON  THE  (fIEST)  BRIEF  EEPORT. 

the  affairs  of  the  Lutheran  emigrants  in  Georgia.  Both  of  these  productions  are, 
fur  the  Salzburg  Lutherans  in  Georgia,  what  the  Halle  Keports  are  for  Pennsyl- 
vania, ISTew  Jersey  and  New  York.  After  his  death  in  1772  he  was  succeeded, 
and  in  like  honorable  services,  by  his  son,  John  August.,  the  founder,  in  1775,  at 
Augsburg,  of  "The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  Practical  Christianity,"  and  of 
the  "Christian  Association,"  established  at  Basel  in  1780,  organized  after  the 
manner  of  similar  institutions  operating  in  England,  Holland,  Sweden  and  other 
countries,  in  a  warfare  against  the  advancing  skepticism  and  materialism  of  the 
times,  and  in  promoting  Christian  knowledge  and  life  in  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel. 
After  1784  this  Association,  at  Basel,  printed  and  circulated  a  monthly  publication 
entitled  " Sammlungen,"  etc., — "Gatherings  for  the  Lovers  of  Christian  Truth," 
and  held  itself  bound  to  work  in  the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  of 
Tracts,  in  helping  the  poor  and  the  sick,  in  sending  preachers  of  the  Gospel  to 
destitute  regions,  and  to  those  who  were  not  as  yet  reached  by  Christian  influ- 
ences, in  rendering  aid  to  weak  Protestant  congregations  in  Roman  Catholic 
countries,  in  short,  in  prosecuting  everything  that  belonged  to  Home  and  Foreign 
Missions.  At  the  same  time  this  Association  took  no  account  of  the  Confessional 
differences  of  Protestantism,  was  the  mother  of  the  Basel  Bible  Society  of  1804,  of 
the  Basel  Missionary  Society  of  1816,  of  the  Institute  at  Beuggen,  "for  the  train- 
ing of  Christian  Schoolmasters  and  the  rescue  of  out-cast  and  neglected  Children," 
;ilso  of  other  Institutions  which  continued  to  work  successfully  even  after  the 
original  Association  had  been  dissolved. 

JoHX  Aug.  Majer,  Deacon  at  St.  Ulrich's,  Halle,  and  Pastor  at  Diemitz,  Avas 
also  a  Avarm  friend  of  the  congregations  of  Lutherans  Avho  had  emigrated  to  for- 
eign parts  as  may  be  seen  from  many  letters  addressed  to  him  from  the  Salz- 
burgers  in  Georgia,  and  published  in  the  "Salzburger  Xachr."  He  also  pub- 
lished several  devotional  Avorks,  e.  g.,  "Christus  unser  Freund  und  unser  Alles;" 
two  sermons,  on  Gal.  3:  23-29,  John  1:  1-14,  Halle,  1735. 

^'  We  present  here  a  fcAV  biographical  facts.  He  was  born  in  Eimbeck,  Han- 
over, now  generally  called  Einbeck,  Sej^jt.  6th,  1711 ;  his  father  was  a  member  of 
Council.  The  private  residence  of  the  family  Avas  destroyed  by  a  great  fire  that 
occurred  there  in  this  present  century.  Lender  the  direction  of  Prof.  Eaphelius,  in 
the  toAvn  of  Zellerfeld  in  the  Hartz  Mountains,  in  addition  to  his  general  educa- 
tion, he  laid  a  good  foundation  in  the  study  of  Latin,  Greek,  HebrcAV,  French,  and 
of  instrumental  and  vocal  music ;  and  in  the  practice  of  much  self-denial,  man- 
aged to  sustain  himself  several  years  by  giA'ing  private  lessons  to  others.  In  1734 
he  returned  to  his  native  place.  In  1735  he  entered  the  newly -established  Uni- 
versity of  Gottingen  Avhere  he  prosecuted  the  study  of  Theology,  especially  under 
Prof  Oporin,  Avho  also  received  him  into  his  family  as  his  private  secretary. 
Here,  Avith  the  co-operation  of  two  other  pious  students,  he  opened  a  school  for 
poor  children,  in  1737.  As  a  regular  student  in  the  Theological  Seminary  he 
preached  in  the  University  Church  and  catechized,  and  Avas  so  encouraged  by  peo- 
ple of  rank  that  lie  remained  in  Gottingen  until  1738.  Acting  upon  the  advice 
of  the  pious  Counts  Beusz  and  Hexkel  he  then  Avent  to  the  University  of  Halle 
and  Avas  appointed  Instructor  in  the  Institutions  of  Francke  there.  The  next  year 
he  accepted  a  call  to  the  office  of  Deacon  and  Orphan-House  Inspector  at  Gross- 
hexxersdorf  ;  but  before  assuming  the  position  he  Avas  examined  and  ordained 
at  Leipzig.     In  Grosshennersdorf  he  "published,  in  defence  of  Halle  Pietism,  a 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIEST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  41 

Missive,  "  Sendschreiben  an  den  Herrn  B.  Menzer,  grossbritan.  braunscliweig. 
ersten  Hofprediger,  etc.,  etc.,  von  D.  M.  (Diaconus  Muhlenberg),  Leipzig  und 
Gorlitz,  bei  Maclie,  1741."  This  Missive  was  published  in  six  half  sheets  quarto. 
A  literary  quarrel  grew  out  of  this  publication,  in  which,  however,  Muhlenberg 
took  no  active  part.  Whilst  upon  a  journey,  on  Sept.  6th,  1741,  a  call  reached 
him,  by  the  hands  of  Dr.  G.  A.  P'rancke,  to  go  to  Pennsylvania.  This  call  he  ac- 
cepted at  once  "for  three  years."  On  Dec.  9th  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon 
and  passing  through  Halle,  Eimbeck,  Hanover,  and  Holland,  he  arrived  in  Lon- 
don, April  17th,  1742.  Plere,  at  the  house  of  the  Court  Preacher  Ziegenhagen, 
he  met  with  John  David  Michaelis,  whom  we  have  already  mentioned,  Knight 
of  the  Order  of  the  North  Star,  of  Sweden,  and  who  afterwards  became  so  distin- 
guished as  an  Oriental  Scholar  and  an  Exegete. 

Upon  this  voyage  from  Europe  he  preached  every  Sunday  in  the  English  lan- 
guage; the  ship's  company  consisting,  mainly,  of  rude  and  thoughtless  people. 
Having  set  sail  on  June  13tli  he  arrived  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  Sept.  22d,  then 
visited  the  Salzburg  Congregations  in  Georgia,  then  returned  to  Charleston  and 
then,  having  taken  passage  in  an  uncomfortable  vessel,  he  reached  Philadelphia, 
after  a  very  dangerous  voyage,  Nov.  25th,  1742.  He  preached,  for  the  first  time 
in  Pennsylvania,  at  New  Hanover,  Nov.  28th,  and  at  Philadelphia,  Dec.  5th.  In 
addition  to  these  two  congregations  he  took  charge  also,  at  once,  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  New  Providence  (Trappe).  In  1745  Pastor  Brunnholtz  came  to  his  assist- 
ance, and  on  account  of  the  delicacy  of  his  health  was  entrusted  with  the  care  of 
the  two  congregations  in  Philadelphia  and  Germantown,  whilst  Muhlenberg  took 
the  oversight  of  the  country  congregations,  in  Hanover,  Providence  and  surround- 
ing regions. 

In  the  same  year,  Muhlenberg  married  Anna  Maria,  daughter  of  (John)  Con- 
rad Weiser,  of  whom  we  shall  hear  more  hereafter.  The  marriage  ceremony 
was  conducted  by  Pastor  Tobias  Wagner,  on  the  Friday  after  Easter,  April  23d, 
1745,  new  style  (see  Tulpehocken  Church  Eegister).  Eleven  children  were  the 
blessings  that  crowned  this  alliance.  From  1745  till  1761  he  resided  in  Provi- 
dence, in  charge  of  a  field  of  labor  that  was  continually  increasing,  and  being  bur- 
dened, all  the  "time,  more  or  less,  with  the  care  of  all  the  churches.  In  compliance 
with  most  urgent  solicitations  he  spent  the  summers  of  the  years  1751  and  1752  in 
the  Lutheran  Congregations  in  the  City  of  New  York  and  its  vicinity;  and  served 
in  like  manner,  in"l759  and  1760  in  Earitan,  New  Jersey.  The  necessities  of  the 
congregation  in  Philadelphia  induced  him  to  return  thither  in  1761.  He  eflected 
the  adoption  of  a  new  form  of  worship  in  this  congregation,  Oct.  ISth,  1762 ;  and 
in  1763  sent  his  three  sons  to  Germany,  to  prosecute  their  theological  studies. 
Zion  Church  in  Philadelphia,  a  structure  of  large  dimensions,  was  built  between 
May  16th,  1766,  and  June  25th,  1769.  On  August  27th,  1774,  Muhlenberg,  in 
conipanv  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  set  out  upon  a  journey  to  Charleston  and 
Savannah,  going  also  to  Ebenezer,  where  the  congregation  had  been,  for  sonie 
time,  disturbed.  He  succeeded  in  establishing  the  congregation  in  the  lawful  pos- 
session of  their  property,  restored  the  reign  of  peace,  had  a  good  form  of  worship 
introduced,  and  on  March  6th,  1775,  returned  to  Philadelphia. 

As  Eev.  John  Christian  Kunze  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  Philadelphia 
after  1772,  and  was  assisted  bv  Muhlenberg's  youngest  son  (three  younger  scmt 
having  previously  diedj,  Gotth.  Henry  Ernst,  who  afterwards  was  pastor  oi 


42  NOTES    ON    THE    (fIEST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

the  Church  in  Lancaster,  Muhlenberg,  after  earnest  entreaty,  obtained  the  consent 
of  the  congregation  in  Philadelphia  to  retire  from  their  service.  He  then  went 
to  reside  upon  his  own  property  in  Providence ;  yet  ceased  not  to  do  his  utmost, 
by  preaching,  by  counsel  and  advice,  to  build  up  the  Churches  in  Philadelphia, 
Providence,  and  vicinity.  The  War  of  Independence  was  the  occasion  of  much 
distress  and  personal  danger  to  him.  In  April,  1779,  he  formally  resigned  the 
rectorship  of  the  Philadelphia  congregation  (see  16th  Continuation,  III).  As 
late  as  the  year  1780  he  continued  to  preach  regularly  in  Providence,  and  occa- 
sionally in  New  Hanover  and  in  Philadelphia.  At  that  time,  however,  his  bodily 
strength  began  to  fail.  Even  in  1778  he  had  begun  to  feel  the  inconvenience  of  a 
dullness  of  hearing,  although,  in  spirit  he  was  still  fresh  and  vigorous.  Dropsical 
symptoms  had  long  prevailed,  and  he  sufiered  much  from  debility,  sleeplessness, 
and  pains  in  the  breast.  He  looked  with  longing  desire  for  a  peaceful  end ;  and 
it  was  granted  him  October  7th,  1787.  As  may  be  seen  in  the  preface  of  this 
"Brief  Keport,"  and  in  Pastor  Helmuth's  Diary,  16th  Continuation,  VIII,  May 
29th,  he  had  been  honored  with  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  entered  into 
his  rest  having  attained  the  age  of  seventy-six  years  and  one  month. 

His  mortal  remains  rest  by  the  side  of  those  of  his  Avife,  near  the  old  Augustus 
Church,  which  yet  stands  in  Providence,  now  called  Trappe.  The  Lutheran 
Church  in  this  country  is,  itself,  the  monument  that  perpetuates  his  praise.  A 
biography,  corresponding  to  the  weight  of  his  own  character,  and  satisfactory  in 
its  theological  elements,  is  yet  demanded.  We  have  the  prospect  of  obtaining 
such  a  work  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  W.  Germann  who  is  associated  with  us  in  the 
present  undertaking,  and  to  whom,  for  this  express  purpose,  all  tlie  documents  in 
the  Archives  at  Halle,  bearing  upon  the  Lutheran  Congregations  in  this  country, 
have  been  entrusted.  Among  these  documents  an  autobiography  of  H.  M.  Muh- 
lenberg has  been  discovered  which,  although  it  does  not  present  the  most  eventful 
period  of  the  author's  life,  Dr.  Germann  intends  to  publish,  in  connection  with 
other  important  contributions.  This,  however,  will  not  make  a  biography  that 
covers  the  times  and  scenes  of  his  most  prominent  labors,  superfluous. 

We  refer  the  reader  to  the  following  publications:  "Denkmal  der  Liebe  und 
Achtung,  welches  Seiner  Hochwiirden  dem  Herrn  Dr.  H.  M.  Miihlenberg,  u.  s.  w., 
ist  gesetzt  worden,"  Philadelphia,  bei  Melchior  Steiner,  1788.  Also  to  the  Ser- 
mon, 2  Chron.  II:  12,  preached  on  the  occasion  of  his  death,  in  Zion  Church, 
Philadelphia,  by  the  pastor,  Eev.  J.  G.  Chr.  Helmuth.  Also  to  the  "Memoir  of 
the  Life  and  Times  of  H.  M.  Muhlenberg,  D.D.,  Patriarch  of  the  Evang.  Luth, 
Church  in  America,  by  M.  L.  Stoever,  Professor  in  Pennsylvania  College,  1856, 
Philadelphia,  Lindsay  and  Blakiston. 

For  his  life  previous  to  his  arrival  in  America  see  the  valuable  contributions  by 
his  descendant  Dr.  F.  A.  Muhlenberg,  now  Professor  in  the  L^niversity  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Evang.  Review,  III,  pp.  151,  etc. 

For  his  journey  to  Ebenezer,  in  1774  and  1775,  see  the  translation  of  his  journal 
by  his  grandson  the  late  Dr.  J.  W.  Eichards,  Evang.  Review,  Vols.  1,  2,  3,  4. 

^*  That  is,  "styli  veteris,"  old  style,  or  the  Julian  style  of  tlie  Calendar — derived 
from  Julius  C^sar,  46  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ.  The  len-th  which  this 
reckoning  accorded  to  the  year  Avas  incorrect.  Pope  Gregory  XIII  (1572—1583) 
corrected  the  Calendar ;  and  this  so-called  Gregorian  Calendar  was  gradually  in- 
troduced into  divers  countries  by  the  omission  of  ten  days  of  the  old  reckoning. 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  43 

The  Protestant  territories  of  Germany  adopted  it  one  after  the  other,  from  1700 
and  onward.  An  Act  of  Parliament  established  it  in  Great  Britain  only  in  Sep- 
tember, 1752.     See  "Amerik.  Ackerwerk  Gottes,"  1754,  p.  237. 

^^  Early  in  the  century  preceding  that  of  the  Eeformation  teachers  of  the  Hus- 
site doctrines  had  begun  to  labor  in  the  domains  of  the  Archbishop  of  Salzburg, 
as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  the  Austrian  Empire.  The  Archbishop  Eberhard 
III,  had  already  issued  stern  edicts  against  them.  These  measures,  however, 
failed  to  root  out  "  the  heresy ; "  and  one  hundred  years  afterwards  the  writings 
of  LrTHER  found  an  abundant  entrance  there.  Even  E-oman  Catholic  priests 
adopted  the  Evangelical  doctrine;  as,  we  learn  from  Luther's  history,  was  the 
case  with  the  well-known  Staupitz,  who,  after  1518,  had  been  Court  Chaplain  of 
the  Archbishop  of  Salzburg.  To  avoid  the  appearance  of  holding  Luther's  doc- 
trine to  be  a  heresy  lie  retired  from  this  position ;  and  afterwards  became  Aljbot 
of  the  Cloister  of  St.  Peter  in  Salzburg ;  where  he  died  in  1525.  Even  during 
his  lifetime  Paul  Speratus  and  Stephen  Agricola  (of  course,  not  John  A.,  of 
Eisleben)  preached  the  Word  in  Salzburg ;  but  on  account  of  their  evangelical 
tendencies  they  were  sharply  tried  and  hardly  escaped  with  their  lives.  This 
commenced  the  persecution  of  the  friends  of  the  Gospel  in  Salzburg.  Barbarous 
edicts  and  atrocious  measures  distinguished  the  years  1588  and  1G14.  During  the 
thirty  years'  war,  however,  the  cunning  policy  of  the  Archbishop  kept  the  peace ; 
but  afterwards  the  persecution  was  renewed  with  so  much  the  greater  violence. 
The  Jesuits  began  rooting  around  and  very  soon  turned  up  many  persons  who  had 
been  cherishing  the  faith  of  the  Gospel  in  private.  Straightway  in  1G84  and  1G85 
the  persecution  smote,  among  others,  that  heroic  man  Joseph  Schaitberger, 
author  of  the  w^ell-known  Exueanten  Lied  and  Evangelische  Sendbrief, 
born  in  Diirnberg,  a  few  miles  from  the  city  of  Salzburg.  He  was  banished  in 
1685  and  afterwards  supported  himself  by  his  handicraft,  for  many  years,  in 
Niirnberg,  where  he  w^as  finally  admitted  into  the  Institution  of  the  Zwoelf 
Armen  Brxieder,  and,  at  the  time  of  the  great  Salzburg  Persecution  in  1732, 
was  yet  living. 

In  direct  violation  of  the  Peace  of  Westphalia  of  1648,  many  hundreds  of 
the  friends  of  the  Gospel  were  forced,  by  cruel  persecutions,  to  fly  from  house  and 
home.  A  few  years  of  peace  followed  the  death  of  Archbishop  Gandolph  in 
1685 ;  but  under  the  administration  of  the  brutal  Leopold  Anton  Firmian  in 
1728,  the  storm  burst  forth  with  terrific  violence.  He  "would  root  the  lieretics 
out  of  the  land,  even  if  nothing  but  thistles  should  grow  upon  it ; "  and  he  had  his 
wish.  The  Lutherans  were  tormented  in  every  possible  way ;  they  met  with  but 
little  honest  sympathy  among  the  Protestant  Powers  of  the  German  Empire,  and 
were  driven  in  crowds,  as  rebels,  by  the  Austrian  troops  out  of  the  territory  of 
Salzburg.  King  William,  of  Prussia,  father  of  Frederick  the  Great,  who,  not- 
withstanding all  his  harshness  and  his  tyrannical  moods,  was  a  sagacious  prince 
and  severely  moral,  welcomed  thousands  of  them  to  his  domain,  and  they  proved 
to  be  a  blessing  to  his  country, 

Samuel  ITrlsperger,  who,  in  a  small  volume,  published  an  account  of  Schait- 
berger, made  an  appeal,  on  behalf  of  some  of  these  exiles,  to  the  "London  Soc.  for 
the  Propagation  of  Christianity."  As  the  result  of  this,  a  place  of  refuge  was  pro- 
vided for  them  in  the  new  colony  of  Georgia,  not  far  from  Savannah,  witli  free 
passage  across  the  sea.    The  first  arrival  in  this  colony  was  that  of  ninety-one  per- 


44  NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

sons  in  1734,  under  the  lead  of  the  devoted  Pastors  Bolzius  and  Groxau.  Other 
transports .  followed  in  1735,  1736  and  1741.  See  "Volkommene  Emigratiuns- 
Geschichte  von  denen  aus  dem  Erzbisthum  Salzburg  vertriebenen  Lutheranern 
u.  s.  w.,  mit  Vorrede  von  J.  Lorexz  Mosheim,  von  Pastor  G.  Gottl.  Guenter 
GoECKiNG,  mit  Karte,  Frankfurt  und  Leipzig,  1734."  Kev.  P.  A.  Strobel,  "The 
Salzburgers  and  their  Descendants,  a  History  of  a  Colony  of  German  Lutheran 
Emigrants,  etc.,  Baltimore,  1855." 

We  yet  add,  that  there  is  an  Evangelical  Church  and  congregation  in  the  city 
of  Salzburg  at  the  present  time ;  but,  as  the  pastor,  now  in  charge,  himself  informs 
us,  no  traces  of  the  old  evangelical  faith  can  be  discovered  in  the  surrounding  re- 
gions. In  recent  times  the  banishment  of  the  Zillerthal  Lutherans  from  the 
Tyrol  in  1837,  and  their  admission  into  Prussian  territory  is  well  known. 

John  Martin  Bolzius  and  Israel  Christian  Gronau  were  both  brought 
up  in  the  Orphan  House  at  Halle,  and  were  afterwards  educated  for  the  pastoral 
office  at  the  University  in  that  city.  Bolzius  was  Inspector  Vicarius  in  the  Latin 
School,  and  Gronau  Preceptor  in  the  Orphan  House.  They  sailed  from  Rotter- 
dam for  Georgia  in  the  first  transport.  See  Autobiography  of  H.  M.  Muhlenberg, 
by  Lie.  Dr.  W.  Germann.  Franz  Loher,  Gesch.  u.  Zustiinde  der  Deutschen  in 
America,  1847,  p.  65.  4th  Continuation  der  Salzburger  Nachrichten,  pp.  2215, 
2281,  2282.     Gronau  departed  this  life  on  January  11th,  1745. 

'*  This  is  the  name  the  Salzburgers  gave  to  their  first  colony  in  Effingham 
county,  Georgia.  1  Sam.  7 :  12.  In  Vol.  IV  of  "  Collections  of  the  Georgian 
Hist.  Soc,"  Jones  says  that  it  is  one  of  the  "thoroughly  dead  towns  of  Georgia." 
It  may  be  interesting  to  read  certain  notices  of  the  locality,  which  Ave  extract  from 
a  letter  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Reimensnyder,  pastor  of  the  Evang,  Lutheran  Congregation 
in  Savannah,  under  date  of  March  14th,  1879.  "  The  church  built  in  Ebenezer, 
in  the  year  1767,  still  stands  and  presents  a  very  fine  appearance.  Many  descend- 
ants of  the  original  Salzburgers  yet  reside  in  the  neighborhood.  Some  of  them 
are  connected  with  families  of  the  highest  respectability  in  the  congregation  at 
Savannah.  There  are  none,  however,  bearing  the  names  of  Bolzius  and.  of  Gronau. 
During  the  War  of  Independence  the  English  troops  occupied  the  Church  as  a 
hospital  and  a  stable ;  and  traces  of  this  abuse  may  yet  be  seen.  The  descendants 
of  the  emigrants  still  enjoy  a  high  reputation  for  integrity  and  honesty  in  their 
conduct  and  their  dealings,  and  for  their  characteristic  soundness  of  judgment. 
As  Gen.  Sherman,  upon  his  "march  to  the  sea,"  passed  through  their  farms,  they 
had  to  sufler  much  in  consequence.  During  the  last  century  the  Salzburgers  con- 
tinued to  stand  out  earnestly  against  the  employment  of  human  slaves.  The  Ger- 
man language  prevailed  among  them  until  the  present  century;  although  in  the 
year  1800,  and  indeed,  long  before,  the  desire  had  been  expressed  for  the  use  of 
the  English  language  in  connection  with  the  German  in  the  public  worship  of  the 
Church.  Pastor  John  Ernst  Bergmann,  however,  who  came  over  in  1785  and 
died  in  1824,  withstood  this  proposed  change  with  great  decision;  but  the  Episco- 
palians, Baptists  and  Metliodists  of  the  neighborhood,  with  all  of  whom  Bergmann 
himself  stood  on  very  friendly  terms,  derived  great  gains  from  his  course  in  this 
matter.  (See  Evang.  Review,  IX,  p.  13,  etc.)  After  all,  the  use  of  the  German 
language  ceased  entirely  between  1825  and  1850.  At  the  present  time  there  are 
four  Lutheran  churches  at  and  around  Ebenezer,  with  a  total  membership  of 
about  400.     In  view  of  the  relations  and  circumstances  that  have  marked  the  last 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT.  45 

fifty  or  more  years  it  is  not  at  all  surprising,  that  the  genuine  Lutheran  spirit  has 
been  much  enfeebled  in  that  part  of  the  Church  also,  and  that  revivalism  even, 
has  asserted  its  influence.  Recently,  however,  more  sobriety  has  prevailed,  and 
better  hopes  may  be  entertained  for  the  future." 

^5  In  the  reference  to  the  11th  Continuation  of  the  Salzb.  Nachrichten,  p.  2061, 
etc.  Ave  find  the  following  extract  from  the  Diary  of  Pastor  Gronau.  "On  Satur- 
day evening  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  who  has  accepted  a  call  to  the  ministry  in 
Pennsylvania,  arrived  at  Savannah.  Having  rested  on  Sunday,  he  reached  this 
place  to-day.  His  baggage  will  follow  in  a  freight  boat,  with  a  Salzburg  family 
from  Casand,  in  Seeland."  *  *  ^^  "Our  hearts  are  drawn  closely  to  Pastor 
Muhlenberg,  and  we  join  with  him  in  heartily  thanking  God  for  the  wonderful 
providence  that  sustained  him  throughout  all  his  long  and  wearisome  voyage  on 
the  sea."  "Friday,  Oct.  3d,  p.  2003.  At  the  devotional  meeting  to-day,  both  in 
the  toAvn  and  in  the  country,  Pastor  Muhlenberg  exhorted  the  people  from  the 
Word  of  God ;  and  may  the  Lord  Himself  make  it  a  blessing  to  them  all."  On 
Sunday,  Oct.  10th,  he  united  with  the  congregation  in  celebrating  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. The  above-mentioned  family  consisted  of  the  parents  and  three  daughters, 
minors.  On  Monday,  Oct.  11th,  Muhlenberg  took  his  departure,  and  the  Diary 
remarks:  "Before  he  started  he  sang  the  last  verse  of  the  hymn,  'Mir  nach, 
spricht  Christus,  unser  Held.'  All  who  were  present  were  deeply  moved.  I 
cherish  the  hope  that  by  the  Favor  of  the  Lord,  we  may  meet  again.  We  have 
never  before  had  such  a  season  of  blessing  in  Ebenezer.  Never  before,  had  the 
Lord  granted  us  the  favor  of  bringing  to  our  very  homes  one  of  our  dear  friends 
from  Germany,  one  Avhom  we  had  already  loved  in  spirit,  and  permitting  us,  as 
we  see  him  face  to  face,  to  recognize  him  as  a  true  friend  and  brother  in  Christ 
Jesus.  My  hope  is,  that  we  shall  now  be  more  intimately  bound  together,  and 
that,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  a  congregation  may  be  organized  in  Pennsylvania,  by 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  with  which  Ave  can  unite  in  heart  and  spirit,"  p.  2064. 
For  Pastor  Bolzius'  journey  to  Charleston  in  company  with  Muhlenberg,  see  p. 
2071,  etc. 

^«  Hazelius,  in  "History  of  American  Lutheran  Church,"  ZanesAnlle,  Ohio,  1846, 
says:  "Considerable  sums  of  money  were  collected  in  Germany  and  transmitted  to 
the  Salzljurgers  bv  their  devoted  friends,  Senior  Urlsperger  and  Dr.  Francke. 
Contril^utions  in  aid  of  the  Colonists  were  also  made  by  benevolent  individuals  in 
England,  and  by  the  active  sympathy  of  the  "Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
Christianity."  It  is  even  said  that  the  British  Parliament  voted  the  sum  of  26,000 
pounds  sterUng  ($130,000)  in  aid  of  the  Salzburgers.  This,  however,  is  very 
doubtful.  Yet  it  is  true,  that  the  great  preacher  Whitfield,  who  introduced 
Methodism  into  America,  collected  benevolent  contributions  in  different  parts  of 
the  country,  for  the  Salzburgers,  ibid,  p.  33,  34.  We  shall  be  informed  about  his 
activities  in  Georgia  hereafter.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  Salzburgers  of 
Ebenezer  were  prompt,  in  their  turn,  to  extend  aid  to  other  Lutheran  congrega- 
tions in  their  times  of  need.  The  Church  Records  of  New  Providence  for  1749 
retain  to  this  day,  an  acknowledgment  of  7  pounds  currency,  as  a  contribution 
from  the  Church  at  Ebenezer. 

"  This  festival  was  observed  every  year  on  March  11th,  as  being  the  day,  m 
1734,  when  the  Salzburgers  first  landed  on  the  neAV  world. 

^^  There  had  been  some  Germans  living  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  already  prior  to 


46  NOTES   ON   THE    (FIRST)    BRIEF   REPORT. 

1734,  L  e.,  before  the  arrival  of  the  Salzburgers  in  Georgia.  "  Their  first  settle- 
ment in  South  Carolina  was  made  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne.  They  occu- 
pied the  central  portion  in  the  forks  of  the  Saluda  and  Broad  river,  and  along  the 
Congaree  and  Wateree,"  Loher,  p.  67.  He  is  not  correct,  however,  in  what  he 
says  about  the  earliest  preacher,  Giessendammer,  viz.,  that  a  child  of  his,  born 
in  the  settlement  in  1742,  was  yet  living  in  1808,  This  was  the  child  of  his 
nephew.     Giessendammer  himself  died  in  1738. 

f  The  first  German,  in  South  Carolina,  to  command  our  attention  is  John 
Lederer.  Commissioned  by  W.  Berkeley,  Governor  of  Virginia,  he  travelled, 
resolutely,  three  times  over  both  Carolinas,  in  1669  and  1670.  At  that  time  there 
were  no  white  people  at  all  living  in  South  Carolina ;  and  in  the  eastern  part  of 
I^orth  Carolina  there  were  only  two  small  colonies.  However,  old  Charleston,  in 
South  Carolina,  was  founded  in  1670,  at  a  point  a  few  miles  removed  from  the  lo- 
cation of  the  present  Charleston.  Some  Holland  Lutherans,  who  left  New  York 
after  it  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  came  in  1674  and  settled  upon 
James  Island,  south-west  of  Ashley  river.  "When  the  attempt  was  made  in  1704 
to  establish  the  Anglican  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  Carolinas,  to  the  exclusion  of 
other  Confessions,  they  stood  up  manfully  in  defence  of  the  freedom  of  th-eir  Lu- 
theran Faith.  About  1710  we  meet  with  a  colony  of  Palatines  and  Swiss  at  New 
Berne.  When  Bolzius  arrived  in  Charleston  he  found  Lutherans  there  already, 
and  celebrated  the  Lord's  Supper  with  them.  In  1732  a  colony  of  Swiss  settled 
at  Purysburg,  in  South  Carolina ;  and  they  are  often  spoken  of  in  "  Salzb.  Nach- 
richten."  In  1735  colonies  of  Germans  and  Swiss  were  establislied  in  Orangeburg, 
South  Carolina.  Their  numbers  were  increased  by  persons  who  came  under  the 
lead  of  Pastor  John  Ulrich  Giessendanner.  (More  correctly,  Giezentanner.)  He 
was  originally  a  goldsmith,  in  the  Toggenburg,  in  Switzerland.  He  was  banished 
from  the  country  as  a  fanatic ;  but  was  not  recognized  by  the  ^'Inspirationists"  of 
Germany — Gruber,  Eock  and  others.  He  afterwards  served  for  a  time  as  teacher 
in  the  Orphanhouse  at  Halle,  then  in  Marburg,  where  Prof  G.  F.  Hottinger  was 
his  friend  and  even  had  him  to  preach  in  his  church.  Afterwards,  he  was  sent 
off  from  that  place  also  and  went  back  to  Switzerland.  He,  next,  acted  as  a 
teacher  at  Frankford-on-the-Main,  and  finally  emigrated  to  South  Carolina  in 
1737.  See  "Zeitschrift  fur  Hist.  Theologie,"  1854,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  418,  Art.  of  Max 
Gobel  fiber  die  Inspirirten. 

A  notice  of  the  elder  "Giesendanner"  may  be  found  in  the  "Salzb.  Ebenez. 
Nachrichten,"  1737,  4th  Continuation,  p.  2174.  Here  he  is  described  as  a  copper- 
plate and  seal  engraver,  whom  the  colonists  of  Orangeburg,  in  North  Carolina, 
called  to  the  pastoral  office,  and  who  afterwards  wrote  to  the  people  at  Ebenezer, 
requesting  them  to  help  his  nephew  in  prosecuting  his  studies ;  but  his  request  was 
not  granted.  (See  Acta  Hist.  Eccles.,  Vol.  IV,  p.  893,  etc.)  Colonists  continued  to 
arrive  until  1769.  The  first  congregation  at  Orangeburg  was  Lutheran,  and  Gie- 
sendanner  was  their  pastor,  although  he  was  a  native  of  Switzerland  and  was  said 
to  have  been  ordained  there.  vSomewhat  later,  however,  the  Reformed  pastor 
ZuEBLY,  whom  we  shall  meet  hereafter,  had  charge  of  the  congregation.  The 
younger  Giesendanner  labored  under  great  difficulties,  especially  at  the  beginning 
of  his  work.  He  Avent  to  England  in  1749,  after  he  had  been  serving  as  a  Lu- 
theran pastor  for  ten  years,  and  was  ordained  there  by  an  English  bishoj).  He 
died  in  1761. 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  47 

After  1737  we  find  another  German  colony  in  Saxe-Gotha  township,  noAV  Lex- 
ington county,  Soutli  Carolina,  about  100  miles  from  Charleston.  This  colony  was 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  immigrants,  especially  in  1744  and  1750.  Christian 
Theus  a  very  able  pastor,  served  them  subsequently  to  1739.  Muhlenberg,  upon 
his  journey  to  Ebenezer  in  1774  and  1775,  became  acquainted  with  him,  and  he 
was  yet  living  in  1789.  He  was  of  the  Keformed  Coniession ;  and  the  Lutherans 
of  that  colony  applied  to  the  people  at  Ebenezer  to  help  them  to  secure  a  Lu- 
theran pastor  and  Lutheran  worship.  A  colony  of  German  Lutherans  was  or- 
ganized in  1763  and  1764  at  Hard  Labor  creek,  Abbeville,  South  Carolina.  We 
mioht  yet  speak  of  other  German  colonies.  As  to  their  church  relations,  these 
were,  upon  the  whole,  and  for  a  long  time,  quite  irregular.  The  field  was  very 
large,  the  laborers  were  very  few.  Pastoral  visitations,  such  as  Boltzius  made  to 
Charleston  in  1734,  and  Muhlenberg  in  1742,  Eabenhorst,  after  that,  on  his  way 
to  Ebenezer,  and  Gerock,  in  1753,  on  his  journey  to  Pennsylvania,  were  too  brief 
and  contracted  to  leave  any  good  permanent  impressions.  It  is  in  1755  that  we 
first  find  a  regular  pastor  stationed  in  Charleston  among  the  Germans.  The  state 
of  affliirs  in  the  country  districts  was  deplorable,  so  much  so  as,  in  some  measure, 
to  account  for  that  tragical  outburst  of  fanaticism,  the  murder  of  a  man  who  repre- 
sented the  devil,  by  the  Weberfolks,  on  the  Saluda,  about  125  miles  from  Charles- 
ton, in  1760.  Entire  congregations,  under  the  most  lamentable  circumstances, 
were  spirited  off  into  the  confession  of  a  faith  which  their  fathers  had  never 
known.  Wretched  creatures,  pretending  to  be  clergymen,  yet  who  proved  to  be 
wolves  in  the  flock  instead  of  shepherds,  as  in  Pennsylvania,  contributed  to  in- 
crease the  confusion  and  precijDitate  the  ruin.  It  is  very  probable  that  Gronau 
and  Boltzius  took  measures  for  regularly  organizing  a  congregation  in  Charleston 
as  early  as  1734.  (See  Ev.  Eev.,  I,  p.  419.)  Pastor  LurT  is  said  to  have  labored 
there  in  1742.  About  1755  or  1756  John  G.  Friederichs  was  the  pastor.  In 
1759  he  laid  the  corner  stone  for  a  church,  but  shortly  afterwards  moved  to  Amelia 
township,  Orangeburg  District,  South  Carolina.  He  was  succeeded  in  Charleston, 
for  a  short  time,  by  Pastor  Wartmann  ;  then,  after  1763  Pastor  J.  N.  Martin  fol- 
lowed, under  whose  ministry  the  church  was  built,  and  the  "  German  Beneficial 
Society"  of  1766  was  founded,  which  still  exists.  His  successor  was  J.  S.  Hahn- 
BAUM,  who  was  called  from  Germany  in  1767;  after  about  five  years,  however,  lie 
died.  After  him,  Frederick  Daser,  a  W^iirttemberger,  though  he  had  not  come 
into  the  country  as  a  clergyman,  served  the  congregation  for  some  time.  He  gave 
occasion  to  some  disturbance  in  the  church,  which  Muhlenberg,  whilst  on  his 
journey  to  Ebenezer  in  1774  and  1775,  undertook  to  settle.  The  result  was  that 
J.  N.  Martin  was  again  called  as  the  pastor  and  continued  to  serve  as  such  for 
several  years. 

In  Nova  Acta  Hist.  Eccles.,  Vol.  X,  p.  381,  in  the  year  1770  mention  is  made 
of  a  Lutheran  pastor  who  had  been  driven  off  from  the  neighborliood  of  Strass- 
burg,  and  who  was  sent  to  a  congregation  of  Palatines  in  the  vicinity  of  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  after  he  had  had  himself  ordained  by  the  Bishop  of  London.  The 
writer  aj^pends  the  remark,  "To  me  it  is  a  very  doubtful  tiling  whether  a  Lu- 
theran preacher  can,  with  a  good  conscience,  have  himself  ordained  over  again  in 
the  Church  of  England."  W^hile  the  political  storms  were  yet  raging  in  1778, 
Pastor  Christian  Streit,  who  introduced  the  use  of  the  English  language  into 
the  service,  had  charge  of  the  congregation,  with  the  above-named  Fr.  Daser  as 


48  NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

his  colleague.  In  1782  Streit  moved  to  New  Hanover,  Pa.,  and  in  1785  to  Win- 
chester, Va.,  where  he  remained  until  his  death. 

The  SavIss  pastor,  Joachim  Zuebly,  who  had  come  from  Frederica  on  St.  Si- 
mon's Island,  south  of  Savannah,  in  1747,  and  whom  we  shall  meet  again,  organ- 
ized a  Eelormed  congregation  in  Amelia  township.  He  alterwards  moved  to  Sa- 
vannah, where  Muhlenberg  met  him  in  1774.  This  Reformed  congregation  was 
disbanded,  and  its  membership  absorbed  by  the  Lutheran  congregations  in  the 
vicinity.  Two  Lutheran  pastors,  J.  N.  Maetin,  named  above,  and  L.  Hoch- 
HEiMER,  labored  in  Saxe-Gotha  District,  about  the  year  1774.  Fn.  John  Wal- 
LERN  was  Lutheran  pastor  in  Newberry  District,  in  1787.  At  Indian  Field 
Swamp,  50  miles  from  Charleston,  about  1774,  the  preacher  of  the  Lutherans  was 
a  young  man  who  had  brought  no  other  credentials  from  Germany  than  "a  black 
coat."  In  a  word,  the  necessities  of  the  Lutherans  in  Korth  Carolina  during  the 
second  half  of  the  last  century  Avere  provided  for  by  a  missionary  organization  in 
the  University  of  Helmstiidt  (closed  in  1809),  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Prof. 
Yelthusen,  in  like  manner  as  the  Pennsylvania  Lutherans  were  supplied  from 
Halle.  The  Eeports  from  these  congregations,  written  by  the  pastors  who  had 
been  sent  to  them,  are  not  very  full;  but  they  resemble,  in  general,  our  own 
"Halle  Reports."  We  have  extracted  by  far  the  largest  part  of  these  notices 
from  a  work  which  sliows  at  once  the  diligence,  the  keen  penetration  and  the 
sound  judgement  of  its  author,  under  the  title.  History  of  the  Gernaan  Settlements 
and  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  North  and  South  Carolina,  etc.,  by  G.  D.  Bern- 
lieim,  Pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Ev.  Luth.  Church,  Wilmington,  X.  C.  Philadelphia, 
Luth.  Book  Store,  117  N.  6th  St.,  1872. 

It  may  be  useful  yet  to  add  some  statements  concerning  the  condition  and  his- 
tory of  the  Lutheran  churches  in  North  Carolina,  in  more  recent  times.  For  this 
we  make  use  of  an  Article  written  by  the  aforesaid  Dr.  J.  C.  Yelthusen,  avIio  was, 
for  some  time,  second  Court  Chaplain  in  London,  then  General  Superintendent 
and  Professor  at  Helmstiidt,  and  finally,  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Kiel. 
(A  Biographical  Sketch  of  him  is  found  in  "Alleg.  Magazin  fiir  Prediger,"  Yol. 
Ill,  p.  85,  etc.,  1790.)  The  Article  referred  to  is  in  "Acta  Histor.  Eccles.  Nostri 
Temp.,"  Yol.  XII,  p.  213,  etc.  In  1773,  through  the  action  of  the  Consistory  of 
Hannover,  Pastor  Adoeph  Nuessman  was  sent  to  North  Carolina.  He  had  been 
a  Franciscan  monk;  the  first  serious  impressions  had  been  made  upon  him  by  the 
philosophy  of  Wolf;  he  then  went  to  Gottingen  and  prosecuted  his  studies  there. 
Upon  his  journey  he  passed  through  London,  preached  with  acceptance  and  en- 
joyed the  confidence  of  the  "  aufgeklarten  Mitglieder."  Yelthusen  says  that  he 
himself  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Minister  of  State,  in  London,  all  the  papers 
that  belong  to  a  full  history  of  Evangelical  Lutheran  missions  in  the  Carolinas. 
About  the  time  of  Nfissman's  coming  to  America,  an  experienced  teacher,  wlio 
had  been  trained  in  the  Teachers'  Seminary  at  Hannover,  was  also  sent  over ;  and^ 
in  addition.  Bibles,  Hymn  Books  and  Catechisms  Avere  supplied  in  abundance. 
Collections  of  money  were  placed  in  charge  of  the  "Society  de  Propag.,"  and  the 
King  and  Queen  made  special  contributions  for  the  support  of  the  jiastor.  Un- 
happily, Niissmann  gave  no  account  of  himself  for  about  ten  years — it  was  the  pe- 
riod of  the  Revolution — and  all  kinds  of  reports,  both  of  his  severe  trials  and  of 
his  delinquencies,  w^ere  noised  abroad.  Finally,  however,  the  Missionary  Society 
received  a  letter  from  him  of  an  encouraging  kind,  dated  May  11th,  1786.     He 


NOTES    ON   THE    FIRST    (bRIEf)    REPORT.  49 

had  previously,  by  letter  of  May  4th,  1784,  informed  a  special  friend  of  his  work, 
that  the  congregation  on  Second  creek.  Rowan  county,  North  Carolina,  about  12 
miles  from  Salisbury,  had  built  a  church,  that  they  had  begun  to  mistrust  himself, 
that  they  had  chosen  the  aforesaid  schoolmaster,  Gottfr.  Arnd,  as  their  jjastor, 
that  they  had  him  ordained  in  South  Carolina,  by  a  certain  Buelow,  who  had 
been  a  store  clerk  but  passed  himself  off  as  a  preacher,  and  finally,  that  as  Arnd 
had  accepted  a  call  to  a  congregation  beyond  the  Catawba,  in  April,  1784,  a  good 
understanding  had  been  re-established  between  him  and  the  congregation,  and 
they  were  working  together  in  peace. 

The  most  flourishing  congregation  was  that  of  St.  John's  Church,  on  Buffalo 
creek,  Mecklenburg,  now  Cabarras  county.  It  was  here  that  Niissman  wrote 
his  second  letter.  At  this  place,  eight  miles  from  the  congregation  on  Second 
creek,  a  frame  church,  of  attractive  appearance,  was  built  in  1771  and  1772 ;  and 
it  was  used  for  public  service  every  two  weeks,  even  through  the  time  of  the  war. 
It  was  used  also  as  a  schoolhouse  for  the  children,  in  the  winter,  and  for  the  cate- 
chetical instruction  of  adults,  far  into  the  summer.  In  addition  to  this  church, 
Niissman  preached  also  to  a  mixed  congregation  of  Lutherans  and  Reformed,  at 
Cold  Water,  six  miles  south-west  of  Buffalo  creek,  and  another  at  the  Pine  Church, 
three  miles  south-east  of  Salisbury.  Niissman  had  opportunity  to  improve  his 
temporal  circumstances  by  going  elsewhere ;  yet  he  remained  at  his  post  and  held 
the  congregation  at  Buffalo  creek  as  the  object  of  his  special  care.  In  the  winter 
of  1783,  in  the  school,  embracing  three  divisions,  under  the  care  of  G.  Friesland, 
a  teacher  from  Hannover,  there  were  128  children.  The  congregation  had  a  Con- 
stitution, with  elders  and  deacons ;  and  possessed  land  amounting  to  100  acres. 
As  to  the  rest,  the  account  which  Niissman  gives  of  the  condition  of  Lutherans  in 
North  Carolina  is  a  sad  one,  everything  growing  Avild,  and  chiefly  in  consequence 
of  the  widely  scattered,  isolated  residences  of  the  people,  they  present  a  melan- 
choly sight  to  look  upon. 

At  this  point,  Velthusen,  with  good  intentions,  started,  in  Germany,  and  chiefly 
at  Helmstildt,  an  association,  specially  intended  for  the  publishing  of  popular 
works  and  of  school  books,  both  religious  and  secular,  which,  in  part,  should  be 
sent  to  North  Carolina,  and,  in  part,  sold  in  Germany,  the  proceeds  being  devoted 
to  the  support  of  the  mission  in  North  Carolina.  Among  these  books  there  was 
a  Catechism,  altogether  new,  "such  as  I  have  long  had  in  my  mind,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  shepherd-boys  scattered  over  the  Lunenberg  heath  ; "  also,  "  Avith  a  full 
course  of  moral  instruction."  Hero  we  observe,  all  through,  the  tendencies  of  the 
so-called  "Period  of  Illumination."  The  other  books  that  were  proposed  were 
controlled  by  the  same  tendencies.  The  whole  spirit  is  no  more  that  in  which 
Muhlenberg  labored  in  Pennsylvania.  The  projected  works,  in  fact,  were  pub- 
lished (see  the  vol.  referred  to  above,  p.  673,  etc.) ;  in  April,  1789,  the  profits  had 
amounted  to  1242  Rix  Dollars,  and  so,  in  compliance  with  Niissman's  request,  an 
assistant  preacher  Avas  at  once  sent  off  to  North  Carolina.  This  preacher  was 
K.  A.  G.  Storch,  who  was  ordained  by  Dr.  Velthusen  at  Helmstadt,  May  12th, 
1788  (Rede  und  Handlung,  1788,  im  Druck).  Of  course,  obstacles  arose  in  the 
way  of  circulating  these  books  among  the  colonists. 

Other  agents,  however,  appeared  for  prosecuting  the  work  among  the  Lutherans. 
We  mention  Christoph  Bernhard,  a  divine  from  Wiirttemberg,  who  preached 
in  Pine  Church,  on  Second  creek,  and  also  in  three  other  churches,  Avhilst  Gottfr. 

4 


50  NOTES   ON   THE    (FIRST)    BRIEF   REPORT. 

Arnd  served  in  the  four  Catawba  congregations.  Pastor  Daser  having  left  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  and  gone  to  a  church  in  the  interior,  M.  Fabkr,  from  Tiibingen,  fol- 
lowed him  as  pastor  in  Charleston.  About  that  time,  tlie  necessity  for  pastoral 
service  was  deeply  felt  in  Cruilford' county,  2^.  C,  70  miles  north  of  Salisbury,  and 
over  a  region  28  miles  long  and  18  broad.  Niissman,  Bernhard  and  Arnd  all 
visited  the  neighborhood.  Another  district  in  similar  condition  was  the  German 
settlement  on  Abbot's  creek,  Kowan  county,  20  miles  north  of  Salisbur}-,  14  miles 
long  and  10  broad.  In  the  upper  part  of  this  region  the  people  co-operated  with 
the  Moravians,  who  held  six  large  churches.  The  Lutherans  themselves  had 
three  churches.  All  along,  thus  far,  the  people  had  to  put  up  with  the  services 
of  roving  fanatics.  See  an  article  in  "Acten,  Urkunden,  etc.,  zur  neuesten  Kir- 
chengeschichte,"  Vol.  I,  p.  673,  etc. 

*^  Nicholas  Ludwig,  Count  Zixzendohf,  of  a  noble  Austrian  family  that 
can  be  traced  back  till  the  year  1114.  (See  Biographies  of  Counts  Ludwig  and 
Karl  von  Zinzendorf,  who,  in  the  last  century,  occupied  high  civil  offices  in  Aus- 
tria, by  C.  G.,  Count  von  Pottenegg,  Vienna,  1879.)  A  branch  of  this  family 
emigrated  from  Austria,  for  the  Gospel's  sake,  in  the  16th  centur)^  Count  Zin- 
zendorf was  born  in  Dresden,  May  26th,  1700;  he  grew  up  under  the  influence 
of  the  religious  principles  maintained  by  Spener,  and  was  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent characters  of  the  Evangelical  Church.  He  died  May  9th,  1760.  His  life, 
his  character,  and  especially  his  activities  in  connection  with  the  Moravian  Breth- 
ren, are  described  in  his  biography  by  Spangenberg,  Verbeek,  Knapp  and 
others.  The  account  Avhich  was  published  in  1851,  as  taken  from  the  manuscript 
of  a  contemporary  of  Zinzendorf,  the  gifted  Baron  von  Schrautexbach,  is  spe- 
cially valuable.  (See  A  Eegister  of  Members  of  the  Moravian  Church,  etc.,  of 
Eev.  Abr.  Keincke,  etc.,  and  illustrated  with  historical  annotations  by  W.  C. 
Eeichel,  Bethlehem,  1873,  p.  43.)  We  are  here  concerned  only  about  the  dis- 
turbances that  arose  between  Zinzendorf  and  his  friends  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 
Lutheran  pastors  and  congregations  on  the  other,  that  are  so  often  spoken  of  in 
the  Halle  Keports.  In  1741  the  Count  withdrew  from  his  office  of  General-Elder 
of  the  "  Briidergemeinde,"  partly  because  his  expectations  in  that  position  had  not 
been  fully  met ;  partly  because,  having  given  up  the  hope  of  ever  realizing  his 
idea  of  the  Church  or  Briidergemeinschaft  in  Europe,  Avliere  church-establishments 
were  maintained  by  law,  he  fondly  rherished  the  prospect  of  accomplishing  his 
plan  upon  the  virgin  soil  of  America,  where  religious  liberty  prevailed.  Accord- 
ingly, in  1741,  he  came  to  Pennsylvania,  and  went  to  work  at  once,  seeking  to 
gather  up,  out  of  the  different  churches,  such  members  as  he  held  to  be  sincere 
Christians,  and  then  to  unite  them  all  in  one  body  according  to  his  own  heart. 
It  was  an  ill-defined  attempt  to  make  the  invisible  church  visible,  and  even  to 
constitute  itself  the  visible  centre  thereof.  These  movements  could  produce  no 
other  than  disturbing  effects  upon  all  the  religious  communions  and  congregations 
that  were  reached  by  them,  unless  these  congregations  themselves  might,  in  gen- 
eral, be  inclined  to  become  Moravians.  The  different  congregations  and  confes- 
sions were  to  retain  their  own  organization,  but  in  them  and  over  them  a  better 
and  nobler  principle  should  prevail ;  to  wit.,  the  spiritual  fellowship  of  Zinzendorf 
himself.  A  statement  from  Zinzendorf's  own  hand  (see  Buedingen  Samm- 
LUNGEN,  Art.  XVII,  p.  789)  makes  this  matter  clear  at  once:  "Scarcely  had  I 
arrived  in  Pennsylvania,  before  I  felt  myself  powerfully  moved  to  cry  out  every- 


NOTES   ON   THE    (FIRST)    BRIEF   REPORT.  51 

where,  "Mther  to  me,  all  ye  Avlio  belong  to  Christ."  From  such  proceedings, 
however,  nothing  but  disturbances  and  conflicts  could  arise.  No  satisfactory 
explanation  is  given  at  ail,  as  to  how  Zinzendorf  could  come  forward  in  Penn- 
sylvania, as  a  kind  of  self-appointed  supreme  head,  even  of  all  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregatioiis.  He  was  always  the  same  man  and  representative  of  "Herrnhut," 
when,  with  reference  to  one  of  his  possessions,  he  went  by  the  name  of  Count  von 
Thurxstein,  or  simply  Brother  Ludwig,  or  even  something  else.  The  fact  that 
Muhlenberg  and  his  colleagues  withstood  the  Count  is  only  a  proof  that  they 
were  deeply  conscious  of  their  responsibility  for  the  Lutheran  congregations  under 
their  care,  that  they  judged  and  acted  prudently  in  matters  that  concerned  re- 
ligion and  the  church,  and  that  Zinzendorf 's  movements  confirmed  in  them  a 
sense  of  the  right  and  of  self-respect  that  was  altogether  creditable  to  them.  These 
troubles  were  made  still  worse  by  the  fact  that  emissaries  from  the  Moravian 
establishment  in  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  tried  to  force  themselves  into  Lutheran  congre- 
gations here  and  there,  like  barnacles  upon  the  hull  of  a  ship,  and,  indeed,  under 
the  notion  that  they  alone  were  able  to  supply  the  means  of  strength  and  safety. 
Complaints  upon  this  subject  and  upon  further  troubles  growing  out  of  it  arose  in 
other  regions,  as  well  as  in  those  included  specially,  in  the  Halle  Reports.  (See 
History  of  Xew  Sweden  or  the  Settlements  on  the  Eiver  Delaware;  by  Israel 
Acrelius,  Provost  of  the  Swedish  Church  in  America  and  Eector  of  the  Old 
Swedes  Church,  Wilmington,  Del,,  etc.  Philad.  Public.  Fund  of  the  Histor.  Soc. 
of  Penna.,  1874,  p.  332,  etc.)  We  quote  from  this  History  as  follows:  "It  was 
remarkable  that  those  Swedes,  who  had  been  ordained  by  the  Moravian  Commu- 
nion, whenever  they  came  to  our  people,  always  claimed  to  be  "  Swedish  preachers," 
representing  themselves  as  Lutheran  pastors,  maintaining  only  the  doctrine  that 
was  acknowledged  in  Sweden,"  etc.,  etc.  (See  "Life  of  Bev.  M.  Schlatter,"  by 
Bev.  11.  Harbaugh,  A.M.  Phila.,  Lindsay  and  Blakiston,  1857,  p.  155,  166,  etc.; 
also,  and  especially,  the  section  relating  to  this  matter  in  the  Autobiography  of 
Muhlenberg,  from  1711  till  1743,  edited  by  our  honored  colleague,  Bev.  Dr.  W. 
Germann,  and  soon  to  be  published  by  Brobst,  Dielil  &  Co.,  Allentown,  Pa.) 

^*'  When  the  people  began  to  build  houses  in  1682,  according  to  the  plan  ap- 
proved by  PeNjST,  the  condition  of  affairs  was  a  miserable  one  in  the  highest  de- 
gree. The  first  English  colonists  occujiied  rough  frame  houses;  they  even  lived 
in  caves  like  those  that  had,  for  many  years  already,  been  dug  out  by  the  Indians 
in  the  steep  banks  of  the  Delaware.  Penn  himself  did  not  come  over  with  the 
first  colonists.  Flaving  landed  at  New  Castle,  Del.,  in  October,  1682,  he  took  the 
road  through  Upland  (Chester),  and  from  that  point,  in  company  with  friends, 
went,  in  a  boat,  to  the  new  city  and  came  on  shore  at  the  jaoint  now  knov/n  as 
Front  and  Dock  streets.  That  point  continued,  for  a  long  time,  to  be  the  great 
centre  of  the  business  of  the  city.  Years  elapsed  before  even  one  house  was  built 
west  of  Third  street.  People  who  came  from  surrounding  territory  to  Avorship  in 
the  "  Meetinghouse  "  on  Sundays  and  other  days,  would  sit  down  to  rest  on  benches, 
under  the  forrest  trees,  at  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  Market.  Yet  when  Penn  sailed 
for  England  in  1684,  the  population  of  the  city  was  about  2500  souls.  The  most 
necessary  articles  of  food  were  in  abundance,  but  money  was  very  scarce.  During 
the  war  betAveen  England  and  France,  and  the  years  1688-1697,  even  tin  and  lead 
coins  seem  to  have  circulated  as  the  representatives  of  money.  (Trego's  Geogr. 
of  Penna.,  p.  130.)     However,  Penn,  in  a  letter,  speaks  about  a  tannery  and  a 


52  NOTES   OX   THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF   KEPOET. 

saw-mill,  "a  glass-liouse,  a  whalery  and  a  dock  belonging  to  it."  He  encouraged 
the  colonists  to  engage  in  the  ^jroduction  of  wine  and  the  manufacture  of  linen 
(p.  129).  He  wished  to  have  the  public  buildings  of  the  city  erected  upon  Centre 
Square,  at  the  crossing  of  Broad  and  Market  streets — the  very  spot  where  the 
imposing  municipal  edifice  is  now  being  erected ;  but  the  location  was  too  far  ofi" 
from  the  city,  as  it  then  was,  and  accordingly  the  "  State  House,"  that  has  become 
so  grand  in  history,  was  built  on  Independence  Square  in  1735.  ^t  that  time  the 
city  spread  out  for  a  considerable  distance  along  the  Delaware,  whilst  east  and  west 
its  limits  were  quite  contracted.  There  were  people  in  Philadelphia,  25  years 
ago,  who  remembered  the  time  when  only  a  solitary  house  stood  here  and  there 
upon  the  territory  west  of  Sixth  street.  According  to  the  report  of  the  learned 
Swede,  Peter  Kaem,  who,  between  1748  and  1751,  travelled  through  the  Korth 
American  Colonies  in  the  service  of  the  Government  of  Sweden,  there  were  more 
than  10,000  inhabitants  in  the  city,  about  1746. 

^^  This  is  Christ  Church,  on  Second  street,  North  of  Market.  About  1695  the 
Episcopalians,  under  Pastor  Clayton,  held  their  worship  in  a  very  unattractive 
frame  house.  They  had  a  bell  hung  up  on  the  branches  of  a  tree  that  stood  near 
by.  This  frame  building  was  enlarged  in  1710.  The  church  that  stands  until 
this  day  was  begun  in  1727.  The  foundation  of  the  tower  was  laid  in  1729.  The 
tower  itself  was  completed  in  1753,  and  a  lottery  was  resorted  to,  to  secure  the 
needful  funds.  G.  Whitefield  was  permitted  once  to  preach  in  this  church  in 
September,  1763.  St.  Peter's  was  the  offspring  of  Christ  Church.  St.  Paul's  was 
the  third  church.  About  the  labors  of  Whitefield  and  the  entire  business  of  the 
"New  Lights"  or  Methodists,  there  was  great  diversity  of  opinion,  also  in  the 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  Whitefield  himself  was  known  to  be  an  ordained 
clergyman.  (See  Papers  relating  to  the  History  of  the  Church  in  Pennsylvania, 
1680-1788,  published  1871 ;  p.  203,  etc.,  354,  381,  392,  etc.)  It  may  be  interesting 
to  hear  the  testimony  of  Episcopalians  themselves,  as  we  find  it  in  confidential 
letters  sent  to  England.  The  Kev.  Archie.  Cummixgs  writes  from  Philadelphia, 
August  29th,  1740,  as  follows:  "The  bishop's  commissary  (Mr.  Garden)  in  South 

Carolina  has  lately  prosecuted  the  famous  Mr.  Wh d  there  upon  the  30th 

canon ;  but  he  has  appealed  home.  I  hear  the  Society  will  use  their  interest  to 
have  justice  done  him.  His  character  as  a  clergyman  enables  him  to  do  the 
greatest  mischief.  He  thereby  fights  against  the  Church  under  her  colors  and 
Judaslike  betrays  her  under  pretence  of  friendship,  for  which  reason  the  dis- 
senters are  exceedingly  fond  of  him,  cry  him  up  for  an  oracle  and  pray  publicly 
for  his  success,  that  he  may  go  on  conquering  and  to  conquer,  and  in  return  he 
warmly  exhorts  his  proselytes  from  the  Church  to  follow  them  as  the  only 
preachers  of  true  sound  doctrine.  I  have  sent  you  a  copy  of  my  sermons,  which 
I  mentioned  in  my  last  and  refer  you  to  the  preface  for  a  brief  account  of  his 
hopeful  doctrines  and  malicious  railings  against  the  Clergy.  I  am  fully  per- 
suaded he  designs  to  set  up  for  the  head  of  a  sect,  and  doubt  not  but  that  he  is 
supported  under  hand  by  deists  and  Jesuits,  or  both.  He  and  his  companion, 
Mr.  Seward,  have  purchased  5000  acres  of  land  about  60  miles  distant  hence—." 

The  intention  was,  to  establish  on  this  ground,  an  Institution  for  the  training 
of  colored  people ;  but  Whitefield  sold  it  to  the  ]Moravians,  who,  going  to  work  at 
once,  began  to  build  the  town  of  Nazareth  upon  it,  a  few  miles  from  Bethlehem. 

Kev.  Ross  writes  from  New  Castle,  August  1st,  1740,  as  follows:  "The  Church 


NOTES  ON  THE  (fIRSt)  BRIEF  REPORT.  53 

here  enjoys  a  iDrofound  calm,  after  being  threatened  with  a  mere  temjDest  of  enthu- 
siasm. We  felt  this  storm  in  this  village  in  its  decline,  when  its  fury  was  almost 
spent.  I  was  never  so  much  astonished,  as  when  I  saw  the  fiuctuating  humor  of 
our  people.  The  sea  roared  indeed  and  the  waves  rose  so  exceedingly  high,  that 
to  face  them  was  present  shipwreck.  I  stood  amazed  and  dreaded  the  consequences 
of  so  unexpected  a  shock,  but  he  that  thus  stirred  up  the  people  and  inllamed  tiiem 
against  the  missionaries  (commissioned  by  the  London  Society)  with  the  most 
opprobrious  language,  I  mean  the  mischievous  Mr.  Whitefield,  lost  himself  and 
ruined  his  credit  with  thinking  people,  by  his  malicious  letters  against  Arch- 
bishop Tillotson  and  by  his  weak,  but  ill-natured,  attack  upon  the  autJior  of  the 
'Whole  Duty  of  Man,'"  p.  204. 

Many  other  letters  of  that  period  were  w^ritten  altogether  in  the  same  style. 
Among  other  things  recorded  in  a  letter  by  Rev.  Hugh  Neill,  Oxford,  near 
Philadelphia,  Oct.  17th,  1763,  written  on  the  occasion  of  Whitefield's  visit  to 
Pennsylvania,  about  that  time,  we  find  the  following :  "  Mr.  Whitefield  arriving 
lately  among  us,  and  meieting  with  a  most  cordial  reception  from  the  Episcopal 
Clergy  of  Philadelphia,  has  thrown  the  Clergy  and  laity  in  the  country  into  a 
very  great  consternation.  The  unanimity  among  the  Church  Clergy,  both  in  city 
and  country,  for  this  three  and  twenty  years  past,  in  opposing  him  prevented  his 
hurting  the  Church  (a  few  individuals  excepted).  The  divisions  that  he  created 
among  the  dissenters,  in  this  province  and  all  over  America,  were  examples  suffi- 
cient to  warn  us  from  splitting  upon  the  same  rock.  But  such  has  been  the  fatality 
of  our  city  brethren  that  they  have  received  him  with  open  arms,  and  still  con- 
tinue to  follow  him  from  the  Church  to  the  Meetinghouses  and  from  thence  to 
the  Church  again,  with  a  greater  degree  of  veneration  (I  really  believe)  than  if 
his  Grace  of  Canterbury  was  to  condescend  to  pay  them  a  visit.  Mr.  Duche,  one 
of  the  assistant  Ministers  of  Christ's  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  and  Mr.  Wrangle 
(both  names  often  occur  in  the  Halle  Reports),  the  Swedish  Minister,  have  ap- 
peared more  openly  than  the  others  in  preaching  up  his  doctrine  and  espousing 
his  cause — they  have  set  up  private  meetings  in  town,  where  they  admit  of  none 
but  such  as  they  deem  converted,"  p.  354. 

Richard  Peters,  whom  we  often  meet  in  the  Halle  Reports,  writes,  as  Pastor 
of  Christ  Church,  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Oct.  17th,  1763,  as  follows : 
"I  was  under  some  apprehension,  lest  Mr.  Whitefield's  coming  among  us  might 
have  interrupted  our  harmony,  especially  when  the  Congregations  (who  I  thought 
w^ould  have  left  it  to  me  to  judge  of  the  propriety  of  inviting  him  into  our  pulpits), 
by  the  Churchwardens  signified  me,  without  giving  me  any  previous  notice,  that 
they  were  one  and  all  desirous,  that  Mr.  Whitefield  should  be  invited  to  preach 
in  the  Churches ;  surprised  at  such  a  request — I  forthwith  consulted  Mr.  Duche 
and  Mr.  Sturgeon,  my  fellow  ministers,  together  with  the  Governor  (either  James 
Hamilton  or  Richard  Penn,  grandson  of  Wm.  Penn,  who  succeeded  Hamilton, 
this  year,  and  whose  sons  had  already  gone  over  to  the  Episcopal  Church),  and 
some  other  friends  to  the  Churches — and  they  were  all  unanimously  of  opinion, 
that  I  should  comply  with  this  request.  Therefore,  after  Mr.  Whitefield  had 
shown  his  regard  to  the  Governor  and  had  paid  me  likewise  a  very  kind  and  po- 
lite visit,  I  invited  him  to  preach  in  the  Old  Church  (Christ  Church)  the  first 
Sunday  his  health  would  permit  (for  he  has  become  asthmatic  and  inclinable  to 
a  dropsy)  and  he  has  preached  four  times  in  one  or  other  of  the  Churches  without 


54  NOTES    OX   THE    (FIEST)    BRIEF   REPORT. 

any  of  his  usual  censures  upon  the  Clergy,  and  witli  a  greater  moderation  of  sen- 
timent ;  he  grows  better  in  his  health  and  talks  of  staying  in  these  Xorthern 
Colonies  till  the  spring ;  and  I  am  in  hopes  his  stay  will  be  attended  rather  with 
good  than  harm  to  the  Churches  "     Whiteiield  died  in  1771. 

^'^  This  is  the  Society  referred  to  in  our  notes  on  sections  12  and  14,  ''The  So- 
ciety for  the  Propagation  of  Christian  Knowledge"  was  founded  in  1699.  "The 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts"  was  chartered  in 
1701,  and,  at  the  same  time,  united  with  the  former  named.  (See  "Yerbesserte 
Sammlung  von  Beitriigen  zum  Bau  des  Reiches  Gottes,"  III,  p.  337,  VI,  710, 
XX,  438.) 

*•*  Their  first  church  in  the  city  was  a  small  frame  building  erected  in  1695,  at 
the  Xorth-west  corner  of  Second  and  Chestnut  streets,  in  which  the  Baptists  also 
held  Divine  service  for  some  time.  In  1704  the  Presbyterians  built  a  church,  long 
known  as  the  "Old  Buttonwood,"  in  Market  street,  then' called  High  street.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  century,  it  was  renovated  in  Grecian  style  •  but  torn  down  in 
1820,  because  of  the  increasing  demand,  in  the  vicinity,  for  places  of  business. 
The  Baptists,  at  first,  held  their  service  in  the  small  frame  house  in  Second  street 
near  StraAvberry  alley.  They  erected  a  brick  church  on  that  spot  in  1731,  and 
then  a  larger  structure  in  1762,  which  also,  in  subsequent  years,  was  altered  in  di- 
vers ways.  (See  Watson's  Annals  of  Philadelphia.)  The  Quakers  had  a  "meet- 
inghouse," in  1750,  on  Market  street,  and  another  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city ; 
probably  at  Sixth  and  Noble  streets. 

^*  They  had  a  chapel  with  an  organ  in  a  house  of  attractive  appearance  in  the 
south-western  part  of  the  city.  (See  Prof.  P.  Kalm's  Eeise,  II,  194.)  They  were 
few  in  numbers  in  Philadelphia  and  Pennsylvania  until  the  middle  of  the  last 
century.  Yet  they  had  a  station  in  Lancaster  and  another  in  the  neighborhood 
of  SumneytoAvn.  Xevertheless,  every  now  and  then,  complaints  were  made  about 
the  intrigues  of  the  Jesuits,  etc.  Even  Whitefield  himself  was  brought  into  cer- 
tain relations  with  them.  (See,  e.  g.,  "Papers  relating  to  the  History  of  the 
Churches  in  Pennsylvania,"  p.  203,  quoted  above.) 

^^  A  structure  which  had  once  been  a  fort,  or  rather  a  blockhouse,  erected  in 
Wicaco,  in  1669,  very  near  the  Delaware,  south-east  of  the  city,  was  afterwards 
altered  and  occuj^ied  by  the  Swedes  as  a  place  of  Divine  worship.  This  became, 
in  later  times,  the  Gloria  Dei  Ciiurcpi.  In  1677  they  called,  as  their  pastor, 
Jacob  Fabricius,  who  had  previously  been  a  pastor  in  New  York,  in  Xew  Jersey, 
and  in  Xew  Castle;  but  who,  for  drunkenness  and  his  harsh  treatment  of  his  wife, 
had  been  punished  by  the  civil  authorities  and  pronounced  incompetent  to  serve 
as  a  pastor  in  Xew  Y'ork  and  Xew^  Jersey.  For  the  happy  influence  of  the  Swed- 
ish Lutherans  of  those  days,  by  which  also  they  contributed  materially  to  the 
success  of  Penn's  Treaty  with  the  Indians,  see  "  Early  History  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  America,"  by  Pastor  C.  W.  Schaeffer,  Philadelphia,  1868. 

^^  These  country  congregations  are  Xew  Providence  (Trappe)  and  Xew  Hanover 
(Falknei-'s  Swamp),  to  Avhich  also  Germantown  and  others  were  added  afterwards. 
The  three  streams  that  had  to  be  crossed  Avere  the  Wissahickon,  the  Perkiomen 
and  the  Skippach  ;  and  the  road  by  Avhich  they  Avere  crossed  ahvays  ran  east  of 
the  Schuylkill.  The  congregation  at  Xcav  Hanover,  some  miles  east  of  the 
Schuylkill,  is,  as  Ave  have  already  remarked,  no  doubt,  the  oldest  German  Lu- 
theran congregation  in  the  whole  United  States.    It  is  very  difficult  to  determine 


NOIES    ON    THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT.  55 

the  precise  year  iu  which  the  Germans  began  to  settle  in  this  neighborhood. 
Most  probably  it  was  before  1700.  At  Molatton,  near  to  the  Schuylkill,  now 
Douglasville,  and  bordering  on  New  Hanover,  the  Swedes  luid  established  them- 
selves in  1698.  In  Oley  there  are  deeds  for  real  estate  that  are  dated  in  1704. 
The  necessity  for  the  services  of  a  German  Lutheran  pastor  was  felt  already  in 
1703.  This  circumstance  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Swedish  pastors  in  Phila- 
delphia towards  New  Hanover ;  and,  no  doubt,  the  Swedish  settlement  at  Molat- 
ton, which  had  been  begun  in  1698,  contributed  to  this  result. 

Accordingly,  Justus  Falkner  was  ordained  in  the  WicAco  Church,  Phila- 
delphia, November  24th,  1703,  by  the  Pastors  Kudman,  Bjoerck  and  Sandel. 
This  first  ordination  of  a  Lutheran  clergyman  in  the  new  world  was  not  a  viola- 
tion of  order  on  the  part  of  these  pastors.  The  Archbishop  of  Upsala  gave  full 
authority  to  ordained  pastors  to  administer  ordination  in  those  cases  where  he 
could  not,  himself,  be  present.  (See  "Clay's  Annals  of  the  Swedes,  etc.,"  pp.  78, 
121.)  Faikner  took  charge  of  the  congregation  at  New  Hanover;  but  before  long, 
Eudman,  who  was  Provost  of  the  Swedish  churches,  sent  him  to  New  York. 
Faikner,  in  company  with  his  brother  Daniel,  was  the  legal  representative  of 
Ben  J.  FuRLEY,  Wm.  Penn's  agent,  in  Amsterdam,  for  the  sale  of  lands  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Daniel  Faikner  was  the  agent  of  the  Frankford  Land  Company  to 
which  company  Penn  had  sold  the  region  of  Manatawny,  including  more  than 
22,000  acres,  and  in  which  New  Hanover  lay.  T.  C.  Bjoerck,  son  of  Pastor 
Bjoerck,  says  in  his  work,  "De  plantatione  Feci.  Svecanse  in  America,"  that  the 
neighborhood  had  received  its  name,  "Falkner's  Swamp,"  from  Pastor  Faikner, 
an  opinion  which  Acrelius  also  advances.  Others,  however,  think  that  the  name 
is  derived  from  Daniel  Faikner. 

The  whole  district  of  New  Hanover  was  conveyed  to  John  H.  Sprogel,  in  le- 
gal form,  by  the  "  Frankford  Land  Company."  A  brook  that  floAVS  near  by  the 
church  is  called  "Pfarrersbach."  In  Falkner's  time  the  essential  principles  of  a 
constitution  prevailed  in  the  congregation.  When  the  first  church  Avas  built  can- 
not be  determined.  The  Frankford  Land  Company  obtained  their  title  to  the 
land  Oct.  25th,  1701.  Their  conveyance  to  Sprogel  is  dated  Dec.  16th,  1708.  In 
1719  J.  H.  Sprogel  presented  to  the  congregation  50  acres  of  land,  for  the  church 
and  the  school.  A  church  and  schoolhouse,  however,  had  probably  been  built 
before  this  legal  conveyance  had  been  completed.  In  1721  a  log  church  was 
erected,  which,  however,  had  possibly  been  preceded  by  an  earlier  structure. 
Another  church  was  begun  in  1741  and  finished  in  1747.  The  corner  stone  of 
the  present  beautiful  stone  church  was  laid  June  25th,  1767,  and  on  Nov.  6th, 
1768,  it  was  consecrated.  After  100  years,  in  1868,  the  whole  interior  was  re- 
newed. Under  the  ministry  of  Mulilenberg  50  acres  of  land,  for  the  use  of  the 
pastor  and  the  schoolmaster,  were  purchased  and  a  parsonage  erected  in  1749. 
The  pastors  who  served,  prior  to  Muhlenberg's  time,  regularly  or,  at  least,  tem- 
porarily, were,  1703,  Nov.  4th,  Justus  Falkner  ;  1717  or  1718,  Gerhard  Hen- 
KEL,  who  labored  here  for  some  years.  The  Swedish  pastor,  Samuel  Hesselius, 
residing  at  Molatton  visited  the  congregation  from  March,  1720,  till  October,  1723. 
In  the  autumn  of  1732,  John  Christian  Schulze  became  the  pastor.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1733,  he  set  out  for  Germany,  in  company  with  the  delegates  Weisiger  and 
Schoner,  to  collect  money  for  the  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover 
and  Providence.     Before  this  he  had  ordained,  at  Providence  (Trappe),  John 


u6  NOTES   ON   THE   (fIRST)    BRIEF   REPORT. 

Caspar  Stoever,  avIio  had  arrived  in  America  in  1728,  accompanied  by  a  rela- 
tive of  the  same  name,  who  afterwards  went  to  Virginia.  Pastor  Stoever  labored 
in  Philadelphia,  Providence  and,  probably,  in  New  Hanover;  but  removed  to  New 
Holland,  Lancaster  county,  in  the  autumn.  Between  1735  and  1742,  Gabriel, 
Falk,  pastor  at  Molatton,  visited  the  German  Lutherans  in  New  Hanover,  until 
Nov.  26th,  1742,  when  Muhlenberg  came  and  occupied  the  field.  At  that  time 
the  log  church,  which  had  been  begun  in  1741,  was  still  unfinished.  A  school- 
house  and  dwelling  for  the  teacher  Avas  built  in  1743,  and  in  1744  occupied  by  Mr. 
Vigera  and,  afterwards,  by  Nic.  Kurtz.  In  1743  there  were  250  communicants, 
and  in  1748  there  were  300.  Some  of  these,  of  course,  lived  remote  from  the 
church,  and,  in  course  of  time,  organized  themselves  into  other  congregations. 
The  Synod  met  at  New  Hanover  in  June,  1754,  and  again  in  1778,  Muhlenberg 
being  still  alive.  He  was  pastor  of  the  congregation  from  November,  1742,  till 
October,  1762.  During  this  time  he  had  several  assistants,  under  the  various 
style  of  Cathechist  or  Adjunct  or  Helper  in  New  Hanover.  From  February, 
1745,  till  December,  1746,  Nicolas  Kurtz  lived  in  the  schoolhouse;  but,  then, 
moved  to  Tulpehoken ;  where  also  J.  Alb.  Weygandt  labored,  for  a  short  time, 
in  1748.  A  Conference  held  in  January,  1752,  apj)ointed  Frederick  Schultz  to 
take  charge  of  New  Hanover,  who  labored  in  New  Goschenhoppen  and  Indian- 
field  in  addition;  and  probably  moved  away  from  New  Hanover  in  1754.  Wil- 
liam Kurtz  was  the  pastor  in  1757 ;  but  in  the  next  year  he  Avas  sent  to  Tohicon. 
In  the  same  year  J.  Helfr.  Schaum  was  called  from  Tohicon  to  New  Hanover, 
to  preach  there  every  four  weeks  and  to  serve  also  in  Pikestown,  Oley  and  Upper 
Dublin.  In  April,  1762,  he  moved  into  his  own  house.  In  May,  1762,  Jacob 
VAN  BusKERK  became  his  assistant,  and  also  became  a  regular  pastor  of  the 
church;  but  in  September,  1765,  he  moved  to  Germantown ;  from  which  place 
John  Ludw.  Voigt  was  called  to  New  Hanover,  serving  Providence  and  Pikes- 
toAvn  at  the  same  time.  He  labored  at  New  Hanover,  most  probably,  until  1776. 
His  successor  was  Fr.  Aug.  Muhlenberg  in  1778,  who,  however,  became  a 
member  of  Congress  in  1779.  From  May,  1779,  till  1780  the  pastoral  oflfice  in 
New  Hanover  Avas  filled  by  H.  Ernst  Muhlenberg  ;  from  July,  1782,  till  July, 
1785,  by  Chr.  Streit  ;  from  1790  till  1795  by  J.  Fr.  Weinland,  during  Avhose 
time  certain  disturbances  arose  Avhich  the  Synod  had  to  handle  and  allay,  and  after 
this  time  his  name  disappears  from  the  Roll  of  the  Synod.  Dr.  Fr.  W.  Geis- 
senhainer  was  pastor  betAveen  1796  and  1808;  Dr.  Jacob  Miller  betAA-een 
1809  and  1829;  Conrad  Miller  from  1829  till  October,  1852;  Nathan  Jaeger 
from  December,  1852,  till  October,  1857 ;  H.  AVendt  from  March,  1858,  till  Octo- 
ber, 1864 ;  Abr.  Groh  from  FebruarA^  1865,  till  February,  1866 ;  and  Leonard 
Groh  from  ]  866  till  the  present  time. 

NeAV  Providence  (Trapped  in  Montgomery  county,  about  eight  miles  north  of  its 
county  toAvn,  Norristown,  laid  out  in  1784,  was  probably  settled  soon  after  1700, 
Bills  of  purchase,  by  Mennonites  in  the  neighborhood,  along  the  Skippach,  date 
back  to  1702.  The  earliest  traces  of  a  Lutheran  pastor  here,  occur  about  1732. 
At  that  time,  John  Chr.  Schultz,  named  aboA^e,  began  his  labors  here  as  Avell  as  in 
Philadelphia  and  NeAA^  Hanover.  It  was  at  this  j^lace,  that,  prior  to  his  departure 
for  Europe,  he  ordained  John  Casp.  Stoever  in  the  barn,  in  Avhich  the  congrega- 
tion AA-ere  still  holding  their  services  upon  the  arriA-al  of  Muhlenberg  in  1742, 
although  they  had  had,  even  from  1733,  a  kind  of  organization  under  regular 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  57 

elders  and  deacons.  Stoever  withdrew  already  in  1733,  after  which  the  Swedish 
pastors  of  Wicaco  preached  to  the  Germans  here,  occasionally.  Upon  Muhlen- 
berg's arrival  he  found  about  100  communicants.  Measures  for  the  building  of  a 
new  church  were  taken  in  January,  1743 ;  the  corner-stone  was  laid  on  May  2d, 
following,  and  in  September  they  began  to  occupy  the  church,  although  it  was,  as 
yet,  in  a  somewhat  unfinished  state.  On  Oct.  6th,  1745,  it  was  consecrated,  the 
pastors  Muhlenberg,  Brunnholz,  Tob.  Wagner  and  Nyberg  taking  part  in  the  ex- 
ercises. On  this  occasion  Muhlenberg  baptized  three  negroes,  the  slaves  of  Mr. 
Fowling,  and  the  three  other  pastors  were  the  sponsors  (Providence  Church 
Eecordsj.  The  church  received  the  name  "Augustus  Church,"  possibly  from 
Hermann  Augustus  Francke.  The  Latin  inscription  in  the  stone  placed  above 
the  main  entrance,  is  as  foll(3Ws :  "  Sub  remigio  Christi  has  aedes  Societati  Augus- 
tana?  Confess,  deditse  dedicatas  ex  ipso  fundamento  exstruxit  Henricus  Melchior 
Muhlenberg  una  cum  Censoribus  I.  N.  Cressmano,  F.  Marstellero,  H.  A.  Heilmano, 
I.  Mullero,  H.  Hasio  et  G.  Kepnero,  A.  D.  MDCCXLIII. 

In  the  cemetery  adjoining  the  church  rest  the  earthly  remains  of  Dr.  H.  M. 
Muhlenberg,  and  of  his  wife ;  and  also,  beside  others  of  his  children,  those  of 
his  eldest  son.  Gen.  Peter  Muhlenberg.  John  N.  Cressman,  named  in  the  in- 
scription above,  was  born  in  Pfungstadt,  in  Hessen-Darmstadt,  Oct.  28th,  1695; 
came  to  America  in  1718,  returned  to  Europe  in  1719,  married  there  and  came 
and  settled  at  once,  in  New  Providence.  His  only  child  died  at  a  very  early  age. 
In  later  years  he  moved  to  Germantown  and  died  in  Philadelphia,  Jan.  14th,  1755. 
The  text  at  his  funeral  was  Job.  14:  1-6.  (See  Philad.  Church  Eecords.)  After 
Feb.  7th,  1745,  Brunnholz,  from  Philadelphia,  and  Muhlenberg  preached  here 
alternately ;  but  in  the  following  June  it  was  so  arranged  that  Brunnholz  preached 
in  Philadelphia,  whilst  Muhlenberg  moved  to  Providence  and  preached  there  in 
connection  with  New  Planover.  Between  1745  and  1761,  when  he  moved  back  to 
Philadelphia,  he  had  the  same  assistance  in  Providence  as  he  had  in  New  Hanover, 
but  usually  availed  himself  of  it  in  Providence  only  on  occasions  of  his  necessary 
absence.  In  1761  Pastor  Hartwig  became  his  substitute,  but  he  remained  only 
until  April,  1762.  In  like  manner  Jacob  Van  Buskerk  was  his  substitute  from 
1762  till  1765.  In  1765  John  Ludw.  Voigt  became  the  regular  pastor,  although 
Muhlenberg  continued  to  stand  in  a  certain  official  connection  with  the  congrega- 
tion until  his  death,  on  Oct.  7th,  1787.  In  1776  he  had  moved  back  to  Providence, 
ancf  tliere  continued  to  reside. 

Pastor  Voigt  had  charge  of  the  congregation  until  his  death,  Dec.  2Sth,  1800; 
but  about  the  time  of  Muhlenberg's  coming  back  from  Philadelphia,  he  moved  to 
Pikeland,  across  the  Schuylkill,  and  relinquished  the  special  duties  of  the  pastoral 
office,  in  Providence,  some  years  before  his  death.  These  duties  were  undertaken 
by  Pastor  G.  Fr.  Weinland,  who  had  taken  charge  of  New  Hanover  in  1790, 
whose  name  appears  in  protokoll  of  Synod  in  1793,  as  pastor  in  Providence,  and 
no  other  pastor  is  rejDorted  as  being  in  charge  there  until  1808.  His  name,  how- 
ever, does  not  appear  in  the  Poll  of  the  Synod  after  1796.  In  1804  he  sought,  in 
vain,  to  be  restored ;  yet,  he  was  encouraged  to  hope  for  it.  He  died  sometime 
about  1808,  and  was  buried  at  Providence. 

In  1809  John  P.  Hecht  was  licensed  to  preach  in  Pottstown,  shortly  after  this 
he  was  elected  pastor  in  Providence,  labored  there  for  a  while  and  April  15th, 
1814,  accepted  a  call  as  pastor  to  Easton,  Pa.     His  successor,  at  Providence,  LiM- 


68  NOTES    ON   THE    (fIRST)    BEIEF    REPORT. 

ERiCK  and  PoTTSTOWN,  was  Henry  Anast.  Geissenhaixer,  who  lived  first  in 
"VVhitpain,  three  miles  from  Norristown,  and  afterwards  moved  to  Pottstown.  In 
1821  he  moved  to  the  West,  having  accepted  a  call  to  Pittsburg,  but  died  on  the 
occasion  of  a  visit  to  Trappe,  Feb.  12th,  1823,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of 
Augustus  Church.  After  April,  1821,  his  successor  at  Providence,  etc.,  was  his 
elder  brother,  Fr.  W.  Geissenhainer,  who,  with  his  son  Frederick  William, 
lived  at  Vincent,  on  the  West  of  the  Schuylkill.  The  father  and  son  were  asso- 
ciated in  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Trappe  charge  and  of  Vincent.  The  father 
having  been  called  to  New  York  in  1823,  the  son  continued  the  work  himself  until 
he,  too,  moved  to  New  York  in  1827.  The  congregation  was  served  from  July 
22d,  1827,  till  April  27th,  1831,  by  Jacob  Wampole;  from  May,  1834,  till  April, 
1836,  by  John  W.  Eichards,  during  which  time  a  parsonage  was  built ;  from 
April,  1836,  till  January,  1838,  by  Jacob  Wampole,  a  second  term  ;  from  April, 
1838,  till  May,  1852,  by  Henry  S.  Miller;  from  1853  till  October,  1854,  by  G. 
A.  Wenzel;  from  December,  1854,  till  February,  1859,  by  A.  S.  Link;  from 
March,  1859,  till  1864  by  G.  Sill;  from  1864  till  1874  by  John  Kohlep  ;  from 
1874  until  the  present  time  by  O.  P.  Smith.  A  new  church,  very  near  to  the  old 
striicture,  was  erected  in  1852  and  1853.  The  ancient  Augustus  Church,  though 
no  more  occupied,  still  stands ;  and  is  cherished  as  a  venerable  specimen  of  the 
internal  and  external  style  of  church  architecture  that  prevailed  in  the  time  of  its 
erection. 

'"  Keferences  to  him  may  be  found  in  the  Autobiography  of  Muhlenberg.  We 
may  here  state  that  he  had  been  released  from  his  pastoral  care  in  the  principality 
of  Zweibriicken,  for  reasons  unknown  to  us ;  and,  indeed,  after  he  had  been  ad- 
vanced in  years.  His  name  heads  the  list  of  passengers  who  arrived  in  Philadel- 
phia, Aug.  25th,  1742,  by  the  ship  Mary,  Capt.  Maison.  He  asserted,  at  once, 
but  altogether  without  producing  any  testimonials,  that  he  had  been  sent  to 
America  by  the  Princely  Consistory  of  Darmstadt  to  effect  a  regular  ordering  of 
the  Lutheran  Congregations.  (See  Hall.  Keport,  8th  Continuation,  Gem.  Schr., 
IX,  etc.,  fifth  period.)  This  was  about  the  time  Avhen  the  Moravian,  Pyrl.eus, 
was  forcibly  ejected,  July  18th,  by  the  Keformed,  out  of  the  house  which  Luther- 
ans and  Keformed  used  in  common  for  their  religious  services.  Kraft  tried  to  se- 
cure the  co-operation  of  several  others,  who  here  and  there  attempted  to  ofliciate 
as  pastors  of  the  Lutherans,  in  forming  a  union  or  kind  of  consistory,  of  which  he 
himself  was  to  be  the  head.  However,  although  the  congregation  at  Philadelphia 
took  pity  upon  him  in  his  great  need,  yet  the  stains  upon  his  character  became 
clearly  manifest  upon  the  arrival  of  Muhlenberg  in  November  of  the  same  year. 
Nevertheless,  he  continued  for  a  short  time  to  minister  to  the  congregation  at 
Germantown.  Already  in  November,  1742,  we  find  him  adhering  to  J.  Caspar 
Stoever  and  his  party,  at  the  conference  with  the  Moravian  pastor,  Meurer,  and 
his  friends.  (See  Biiding.  Samml.  V.,  832.  G.  Ph.  Fresenius  bewahrte  Nachr.  von 
Herrnhut.  Sachen,  Band  III,  p.  548,  etc.)  Jan.  20th,  1743,  he  consecrated  the 
church  at  Mosellem,  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  appears  to  have  served  that  congre- 
gation for  a  couple  of  years,  until  the  spring  of  1745,  when  M.  Tobias  Wagner 
was  regularly  settled  as  the  pastor.  Afterwards,  as  appears,  he  preached  and  per- 
formed other  pastoral  acts  in  and  about  Lancaster,  Pa.  (See  Memor.  Volume  of 
the  Lutheran  Congregation  in  Lancaster,  pp.  7,  8*.)  His  connection  with  Lancas- 
ter was  in  no  sense  a  regular  one ;  yet  he  seems  to  have  conducted  himself  in  ar 


NOTES    OX    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  59 

orderly  manner  whilst  there.  (Hall.  Eeports,  2d  Continuation,  section  7.)  In 
1748  we  meet  him  at  Conew^ago  (Hanover,  York  county,  Pa.).  (Hall.  Eeports, 
3d  Continuation,  II.  Handschuh's  Diary,  June.)  He  may  have  remained  here 
for  some  time ;  yet,  not  as  jiastor,  for  the  congregation  was  regularly  served  by 
John  H.  Schaum,  who  had  been  sent  to  York  in  the  spring  of  1T4S,  was  ordained 
in  the  following  year,  and  continued  to  labor  there  until  1755.  (Hall.  Eeports, 
3d  Continuation,  I,  section  22.  Evang.  Eeview,  YII,  p.  533,  etc.)  In  the  4th 
Continuation,  section  25,  he  is  described  as  "an  old  German  preacher  of  irregular 
life,  wdio  caused  much  confusion  and  trouble  by  knowingly  violating  the  law  of 
the  land ;  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  arrested  and  lost  his  property."  Muh- 
lenberg relates  (5th  Continuation,  I,  March)  that  another  wretched  character  stole 
Kraft's  clerical  gown — an  irony  of  fate !  Kraft  soon  disappears  and  we  have  no 
information  about  the  circumstances  of  his  end.  Max  Gobel,  in  his  Gescuichten 
DER  Inspirirten  (Nicderer's  Zeitschrift  fiir  historische  Theologie,  1855,  Ileft  I, 
p.  131),  speaks  about  a  certain  Parson  Kraft  who  "went  off,  as  a  Separatist,  to 
America,"  of  whom  we  can  discover  no  traces  here,  and  Avho  could  not  have  been 
the  same  as  Val.  Kraft ;  although,  in  point  of  time,  there  may  be  agreement  be- 
tween them. 

■■''*  In  1742  Zinzendorf  made  three  missionary  journeys  to  the  Indians  in  Penn- 
sylvania; and,  in  addition,  brought  his  influence  to  bear  upon  the  Lutheran 
Church,  specially  in  Philadelphia,  where,  between  the  fifth  Sunday  after  Epiph- 
any and  Jubilate,  he  preached  eight  times.  These  sermons  with  the  addition  of 
his  last  sermon  in  a  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country,  preached  at  Tulpehocken, 
Dec.  5th,  1742,  old  style,  and  of  several  other  discourses  and  a  few  hymns  were 
printed  in  divers  editions.  We  have  the  third  edition,  that  of  1860,  now  before 
us.  In  the  preface  the  Count  states,  among  other  things,  "As  the  Lutherans  in 
and  around  Philadelphia,  and  in  Tulpehocken,  Avith  the  co-operation  of  the 
Swedes,  who,  on  their  part,  individually  testify  that  'they  can  obtain  no  regular 
pastor  from  Europe,'  have  unanimously  called  me  to  be  theii'  Inspector,  I  have 
accepted  the  office."  On  the  title  page  the  name  of  Zinzendorf  does  not  appear ; 
but  instead  of  it,  the  title,  Ordinarius  Fratrum.  The  "calls"  above  asserted  are 
verbally  reported  in  the  Buedixgen  Samml.,  XII,  p.  828,  etc.  The  preface  con- 
tinues, "Afterwards  I  preached  in  both  places  and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper 
in  Philadelphia.  As  the  place  of  worship  in  Philadelphia  was  only  a  miserable 
shed,  I  had  a  respectable  church  erected,  which,  in  my  own  mind,  was  intended 
for  tlieir  special  benefit."  But  the  Lutherans  never  made  any  use  of  it.  The 
"miserable  shed"  stood  in  Arch  street,  near  Fifth,  near  the  Friends'  burying 
ground  and  the  grave  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  The  Eeformed  also  used  it  as  a 
place  of  worship ;  and,  most  probably,  it  had  previously  been  occupied  as  a  car- 
penter shop. 

Muhlenberg  arrived  in  Philadelphia  Nov.  25th,  1742 ;  Zinzendorf  left  that  city 
Jan.  1st,  1743,  and  Jan.  9th,  1743,  sailed  from  New  York  for  Europe.  During 
these  weeks  must  have  occurred  the  one  solitary  interview  between  these  two 
men,  in  the  new  world,  which  is  described  in  the  4th  Continuation,  I,  section  41. 
It  was  held,  Dec.  30th,  in  the  place  of  worship  occupied  by  the  Moravians.  (See 
Muhlenberg's  Autobiography  by  Dr.  W.  Germann  ;  Brobst,  Diehl  &  Co.  S.  Los- 
kiel's  History  of  the  Missions  of  the  Evangel.  Briider  among  the  Indians  of  North 
America  Barby,  p.  231,  etc.     Also  the  work  of  Schrautexbach,  above  referred 


60  •  NOTES    OX    THE    (fIEST)    BRIEF    KEPOET. 

to,  p.  334),  wliicli  work,  whilst  fully  admitting  all  tliat  was  unpractical  in  the 
Count's  operations  in  Pennsylvania,  is  perhaps  the  very  best  apology  lor  him  that 
could  be  conceived,  in  view  of  the  positive  peculiarities  of  his  character. 

^  The  founding  of  Germantown  is  connected  with  the  Land  Company  organ- 
ized at  Frankford-ox-tiie-Maix,  in  1682,  and  with  Fkanz  Daniel,  Pastoeius, 
a  man  of  varied  culture,  well  qualified  for  his  j)Osition,  who,  at  the  head  of  some 
colonists,  had  been  sent  to  Pennsylvania  by  the  Land  Company.  He  landed  at 
Philadeli3hia,  with  about  20  Gorman  families,  Aug.  20th,  16S3.  These  were,  in 
part,  Quakers;  the  most  of  them,  probably,  Mennonists.  Others  followed.  In 
1677,  "William  Penn  had  travelled  through  Germany  and  Holland  for  the  purjDOse 
of  extending  and  strengthening  his  spiritual  fellowship.  (See  Address  of  Dr.  O. 
Seidensticker  to  Hist.  Soc.  of  Pa,,  delivered  Dec.  10th,  1877,  in  Vol.  II,  Pennsyl- 
vania Magazine  of  Hist,  and  Biogr, ;  and  Articles,  by  the  same  author,  in  the 
'New  York  Belles-lettre  Journal,  August  and  September,  1880.)  The  next  year 
after  the  arrival  of  Pastorius,  AM.lliam  Penn  conveyed  to  him  the  possession  of 
several  thousand  acres  of  land,  in  consideration  of  a  certain  annual  payment.  In 
course  of  time  more  land  was  added,  until  the  whole  amounted  to  28,000  acres. 
On  Oct.  25th,  1685,  Germantown  was  laid  out  ujion  a  definite  plan,  and  incorpor- 
ated in  1689.  Pastorius  became  the  Burgess.  The  first  preacher,  whose  name 
occurs,  was  Henny  Bernh.  Koester,  from  Blomberg  in  Lippe-Detmold ;  a 
regular  oddity,  both  in  theory  and  practice.  Adelung,  in  his  Geschichte  der 
MENSCiiLiCHEX  Narrheit,  Yol.  I,  pp.  86-106,  says  that  he  had  studied  law  at 
Frankford-on-the-Oder ;  that  in  1685  he  was  employed  by  Otto  von  Schwerin,  as 
domestic  tutor,  next,  he  prosecuted  Oriental  studies ;  and  then,  in  1693,  he  came 
to  America,  with  20  Pietists,  including  five  candidates  of  theology,  one  of  whom 
was  Daniel  Falckner,  of  Saxony.  Koster  himself  was  their  leader.  Thomas 
Fairmount,  an  Englishman,  transferred  to  them  a  piece  of  ground  near  German- 
town,  npon  which  they  erected  a  log  house  and  undertook  to  raise  grain.  Koster 
began  to  preach  German  every  Sunday ;  afterwards  he  preached  in  English  also ; 
and  enjoyed  the  regard  of  the  friends  of  George  Keith,  who,  having  occasioned 
the  Quakers  trouble  enough  in  this  country,  went  back  to  England,  worked  against 
them  there  and  died  as  the  pastor  of  an  Episcopal  congregation.  Koster  stirred 
up  division,  preached  chiliasm,  baptized  his  proselytes  in  the  Delaware  before  the 
eyes  of  large  gatherings,  and  asserted  that  he  had  as  much  right  to  do  that  as  the 
Apostles  themselves.  His  folloAving,  however,  died  out  entirely;  and  leaving 
Philadelphia  he  went  to  Yirginia,  then  to  London,  in  1702  he  was  a  teacher  at 
Stockholm,  in  1724,  like  other  kindred  spirits,  he  went  to  Berleburg,  under  the 
protection  of  Count  Casimir,  and  there  published  the  "Schliissel  der  erst  en  und 
letzten  hebriiisch-griechisch-deutschen  Harmonie."  About  1735  he  was  teacher 
of  languages  in  Hanover  and  Westphalia ;  he  could  pray  in  HebrcAV,  Greek,  Ger- 
man and  Bohemian;  he  continued  to  be  fresh  and  vigorous  until  his  death  in  1749. 

All  kinds  of  fanatical  notions,  in  conflict  with  the  practical  jDrinciples  of  social 
life,  came  to  the  surface  in  the  new  colony ;  and  the  constitution  originally  adopted 
did  not  hold  out  long.  In  1708  Daniel  Falckner  succeeded  Pastorius  in  office.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  last  century  there  were  certain  enthusiasts  who  led  the  soli- 
tary lives  of  hermits,  on  the  Wissahickon,  near  Germantown,  They  are  referred 
to  in  Halle  Eeports,  14th  Continuation,  I,  Eemarkable  Cases.  The  Mr.  G.  spoken 
of  there  may  possibly  be  John  Kelpius,  the  most  singular  of  the  whole  of  them ; 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  61 

who,  however,  i-aaintiiined  friendly  relations  with  the  Swedish  pastors,  Rudman 
and  Bjork.  An  interesting  account  of  him  is  given  by  Dr.  O.  Seidensticker  in 
Deutschen  Pioneer,  of  Cincinnati,  1872. 

"\Ve  complete  our  account  of  New  Providence  (Trappe)  by  adding  the  follow- 
ing. A  certain  regular  church  organization  had  existed  there  years  before.  In 
the  oldest  book  of  Church  Records  there  are  entries  of  baptisms  and  other  official 
acts  between  Aug.  31st,  1729,  and  March  9th,  1735,  clearly  by  the  hand  of  J.  C. 
Stoever,  who  began  the  Church  Records  of  so  many  difierent  congregations  in 
Pennsylvania  at  that  time,  and  whom  Ave  shall  meet  again.  The  title  page,  as  it 
now  stands,  was  written  by  Pastor  Brunnholtz.  After  Stoever's  time  there  are  en- 
tries by  divers  hands ;  and  in  connection  with  a  list  of  baptisms  recorded  April 
16th,  1745,  in  Muhlenberg's  time,  Ave  find  the  expression  that  has  now  become  so 
unfamiliar  to  us,  "baptized  by  the  Assistant."  (Catechist,  2d  Continuation,  sec- 
tion 6.)  On  May  27th,  1750,  during  Muhlenberg's  time,  the  congregation  adopted 
a  constitution  Avhich  requires  of  the  *'  Elders  and  Deacons,"  that  as  they  desire 
their  oAvn  salvation,  they  shall  diligently  seek  to  experience  in  their  OAvn  hearts 
more  and  more  deeply  the  power  of  the  Evangelical  doctrine,  upon  the  foundation 
of  the  Apostles  and  Prophets,  and  according  to  our  Symbolical  Books ;  and  en- 
deavor to  adorn  the  same  by  a  godly  life ;  that  they  shall  keep  the  deeds  for  the 
property  in  a  chest  closed  with  two  locks,  of  Avhich  one  key  shall  be  held  by  the 
vestry,  and  the  other  by  the  pastor ;  that  they  must  take  pains  to  uphold  and  ex- 
tend, in  the  church  and  in  the  school,  the  Evangelical  doctrine,  upon  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Apostles  and  Prophets  and  according  to  our  Symbolical  Books.  There- 
fore it  is  their  duty  to  exercise  the  spirit  of  believing  prayer  themselves,  and  to 
continue  on  in  brotherly  love  and  union  Avitli  our  spiritual  fathers  and  friends, 
and  their  true  successors,  in  London  and  in  Halle,  as  also  Avith  the  other  united 
congregations,  and  their  regular  pastors,  in  this  country."  The  pastors  and  the 
vestry  Avere  further  required  "to  be  watchful  that  no  strange  preacher,  Avho  Avas 
not  in  felloAvship  with  us,  Avhatever  he  may  be  pleased  to  call  himself,  shall  be 
alloAved  to  preach  or  to  administer  the  sacraments  in  'our  Augustus  Church  and 
schoolhouse.' "  On  the  day  after  Ncav  Year  the  congregational  accounts  had  to 
be  reported  and  examined  at  a  congregational  meeting ;  at  Avhich  time  also  the 
amount  paid  upon  the  pastor's  salary  Avas  inquired  into.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
congregation  the  pastor  was  required  to  open  it  Avith  prayer,  and  then  to  state  the 
business.  The  pastor  himself  had  tico  votes,  and  Avas  directed  to  take  heed  that 
everything  should  be  done  in  an  honorable,  orderly  and  Christian  manner ;  for 
God  loves  order,  and  not  confusion,  in  the  Church.  It  Avas  specially  enjoined 
upon  the  members  of  the  church,  to  cultivate  peace  Avith  everybody,  according  to 
the  teachings  of  Christ,  and  rather  suffer  Avrong  than  raise  quarrels.  Whoever, 
in  matters  of  dispute,  would  not  take  the  careful  and  conciliatory  advice  of  the 
vestry,  and  Avould  rather  strive  for  the  mastery  than  yield  to  the  pleas  of  justice 
and  reason,  should  be  expelled,  as  an  uuAVorthy  member,  until  he  should  repent 
of  his  error.  When  the  great  annual  assembly  of  congregations  (the  Synod)  Avas 
held,  tAvo  members  of  the  vestry  Avere  appointed  to  attend,  Avithout  fail,  to  repre- 
sent the  congregation,  to  take  counsel  Avith  others  concerning  the  best  interests  of 
the  Church  at  large ;  their  traveling  expenses  being  defrayed  by  the  congrega- 
tion. The  vestry  were  required  to  add  their  names  also  to  the  reports  to  be  sent 
to  the  fathers  and  benefactors  in  Europe.     Every  important  undertaking,  on  the 


62  NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

part  of  the  vestry,  had  to  he  explained  to  the  fathers  in  London  and  Halle,  and 
"if  it  be  unanimously  approved  of,  it  shall  be  regularly  recorded  in  the  books  of 
the  congregation."  No  meeting  of  the  vestry  could  be  held  in  the  absence  of  the 
pastor  and  no  resolution  could  be  valid  without  his  signature.  To  this  Constitu- 
tion the  names  of  the  pastor  and  16  members  of  the  vestry  were  subscribed  July 
8th,  1750. 

A  special  contract  between  the  schoolmaster  and  the  congregation  is  also  regu- 
larly recorded.  It  provides  that  the  schoolhouse  shall  always  be  in  charge  of  a 
faithful  Evangelical  Lutheran  schoolmaster,  whose  competency  to  teach  reading, 
writing  and  arithmetic,  as  also  to  play  on  the  organ  ( Orgelsddagen)  and  to  use  the 
English  language,  has  been  proved  by  the  pastor ;  special  regard  being  had  at  the 
same  time,  to  the  purity  of  his  doctrine  and  his  life.  He  was  required  to  treat  all 
his  pupils  with  impartial  fidelity,  and  to  instruct  the  children  of  other  denomina- 
tions, and  of  the  neighborhood  generally.  He  should  not  allow  the  children  to 
use  profane  language  either  in  or  out  of  school ;  but  should  carefully  teach  them 
how,  both  in  church  and  in  school,  and  in  the  presence  of  others  and  upon  the 
highway,  to  conduct  themselves  in  a  Christian  and  upright  manner,  and  "  not  like 
the  Indians."  He  should  never  permit  either  parents  or  employers  to  quarrel 
with  him  in  the  presence  of  the  children ;  persons  having  complaints  to  make 
should  be  referred,  at  once,  to  the  pastor  and  the  vestry.  He  was  allowed  7  shil- 
lings 6  pence,  and  one-half  bushel  of  grain  every  six  months,  for  each  scholar ;  in 
addition,  he  lived  in  the  schoolhouse  free  of  rent,  to  which  a  piece  of  ground  was 
attached,  had  the  collections  taken  in  the  church  on  two  of  th<?!  chief  festivals  of 
the  year,  together  Avith  other  occasional  perquisites.  It  was  his  duty  also  to  en- 
ter a  record  of  the  baptized  children  in  the  books  of  the  church. 

All  these  items  we  have  obtained  from  the  old  church  books  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  Providence.  We  present  them  here  because  they  show  what  were  the  ne- 
cessities and  circumstances  of  the  time,  and  what  manner  of  spirit  animated  the 
Church.  However,  the  effect  of  time  and  circumstances,  in  developing  and  shap- 
ing congregational  constitutions,  may  be  seen  in  the  constitution  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  Philadelphia,  October,  1762.  (See  the  end  of  10th  Continuation.  Also,  a 
Jubilee  sermon,  already  quite  rarely  to  be  seen,  viz.,  Sermon  on  Psalm  Ixxviii, 
2—8.  "The  Fruitful  Retrospect,"  preached  at  the  Trappe  (Providence), 
Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  May  2d,  1843,  on  the  occasion  of  the  centenary  celebra- 
tion of  the  Laying  of  the  Corner  Stone  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of 
"Augustus"  in  that  place,  by  Eev.  J.  W.  Eichards,  of  Germantown,  Pa.  J.  C. 
Slemmer,  printer,  Pottstown,  Pa.) 

As  to  the  congregation  in  Germantown,  about  which  further  accounts  are 
given  in  the  14th  Continuation,  II,  its  first  beginnings  are  yet  involved  in  more 
or  less  obscurity.  We  have  to  admit  that  a  congregation,  though  always  sadly 
defective  in  its  organization,  did  exist  there,  long  before  the  arrival  of  Muhlen- 
berg. The  German  Reformed  had  built  a  church  there,  in  1719,  of  which  the 
Swedish  pastor,  Dylander,  had  laid  the  corner  stone.  The  Lutherans  seem  to 
have  begun  in  1730  (Acrelius,  p.  237),  and  Muhlenberg,  in  1742,  found  a  small 
church  already  built.  About  1740  the  whole  population  of  Germantown  was, 
probably,  400  souls,  a  very  large  proportion  of  which  represented  the  different 
"persuasions"  (Gesinntheiten),  a  term,  then,  in  common  use.  Zinzendorf 
preached  repeatedly  in  the  Reformed  Church ;  and,  as  his  fashion  was,  he  ap- 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIKSt)    BRIEF    REPORT.  63 

pointed  a  turner,  by  trade,  a  man  after  Ids  oAvn  heart,  by  the  name  of  Beciitel, 
as  the  pastor.  The  Ileformed  pastor,  J.  II.  Boeiim,  who  was  serving  the  Ke- 
formed  in  Philadelphia  and  its  vicinity,  withstood  Zinzendorf  with  as  much  deci- 
sion as  did  Muhlenberg  himself;  and  in  1742  addressed  a  warning  to  his  congrer- 
gations,  covering  96  pages,  8vo,  printed  by  A.  Bradford,  Philadelphia.  lie  had 
obtained  the  necessary  help  from  the  work  of  a  Reformed  pastor  of  Amsterdam, 
published  in  that  city  in  1739,  under  the  following  title,  "Die  nackend  entdeckte 
Entliusiasterei,  Geisttreiberei  und  verdorbene  Mystikerei  der  Plerrnhuter:  Ger- 
hard Kuhlenkamp."  (See  J.  Ph.  Feesenius'  Bewahrt.  Nachricht.  von  Ilerrn- 
hut.  Sachen,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  32,  p.  562,  etc.)  After  his  arrival,  Muhlenberg  turned 
his  attention  to  the  Lutherans  in  Germantown,  who  had  been  served,  for  some 
time  already,  by  the  above-named  Val.  Kraft ;  but  as  his  time  on  Sundays  was 
altogether  given  to  his  three  other  congregations,  he  preached  in  Germantown,  as 
far  as  time  would  allow,  on  week  days.  lie  was,  in  fact,  the  first  regular  pastor 
of  the  congregation.  Upon  the  arrival  of  Pastor  Brunnholz  he  took  charge  of  the 
congregation  in  Germantown  in  connection  with  that  in  Philadelphia ;  23reaching 
in  the  former  every  other  Sunday.  This  contributed  so  much  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  congregation,  that  in  1746  the  corner  stone  of  an  enlarged  structure 
w^as  laid ;  the  new  church  was  consecrated  in  1752,  upon  the  occasion  of  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Synod  in  Germantown.  Pastor  IIandschuh,  who  had  served  the  con- 
gregation in  Lancaster,  for  three  years,  took  charge  of  that  in  Germantown,  in 
1751 ;  Heintzelman,  the  Adjunct  of  Pastor  Brunnholz,  in  Philadelphia,  render- 
ing him  the  nec^sary  help.  The  next  movement  was  that  of  a  set  of  disturbers, 
haters  of  regular  discipline,  who  effected  a  division  in  the  congregation  and  drove 
Handschuh,  and  his  friends,  out  of  the  church.  Sustained  by  the  better  part  of 
the  congregation,  he  continued  to  conduct  Divine  worship  in  a  private  resi- 
dence, for  about  two  years.  During  this  time,  however,  his  experience  was,  in 
many  respects,  full  of  anxieties  and  oppressive  cares.  About  1754  he  accepted 
the  appointment  of  Professor  of  the  French  language,  in  the  Academy  at  Phila- 
delphia ;  and,  after  the  death  of  Heintzelman  in  1756  and  of  Brunnholz  in  1757, 
he  accepted  a  call  to  the  congregation  in  Philadelphia. 

Meanwhile,  the  ranks  of  the  disorderly  party,  in  GermantoAvn,  two  of  whom 
had  even  assumed  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  office,  were  being 
thinned  out  by  death  and  other  causes,  until,  at  last,  the  honest  and  faithful 
members  of  the  church  were  put  in  possession  of  the  property  by  a  decree  of  the 
Court  in  1763.  The  members  who  lived  about  Chestnut  liill  had  already  begun 
to  organize  another  congregation  and  built  a  church  at  Barrenhill,  (Page  16, 
Continuation  II,  sects.  16,  17).  In  1763,  Nicolas  Kurtz  of  Tulpehockon  was 
called  to  Germantown ;  he  came  at  once,  with  the  understanding,  however,  that 
he  Avould  remain  but  a  short  time,  for  the  condition  of  his  former  charge  in 
Tulpehockon  Avas  such  as  to  require  his  early  return  thither.  Leaving  German- 
town  again  in  1764  he  was  followed  by  John  L.  Voigt  who,  in  1765  accepted  a 
call  to  the  church  in  Providence,  and  so  gave  place  to  Jacob  van  Buskerk  Avho 
served  St.  Michael's  in  Germantown  until  1769.  During  the  ministry  of  John  F. 
Schmidt,  17G9  to  1786,  the  congregation  improved  greatly  both  in  numbers  and  in 
character,  althoufi^h  the  times  were  so  disturbed  by  the  War  of  Independence,  and 
the  church  itself  was  the  centre  of  a  battle  field,  October  4th,  1777.  Pastor 
Schmidt  having  accepted  a  call  to  Philadelphia,  the  congregation  was  served  by 


64  NOTES    ON    THE    (FIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

John  F.  Weinland  from  September,  1776,  till  the  autumn  of  1789.  lie  was 
followed  by  Frederick  D.  Schaeffer,  whose  ministry  extended  over  a  period 
of  22  years,  and  included  the  congregations  at  Barrenhill,  Frankford,  Whitpain, 
and  Lpper  Dublin,  at  the  same  time.  In  his  time  already,  the  English  lan- 
guage began  to  be  occasionally  used  in  public  Avorship.  In  1812,  he  accepted  a 
call  as  pastor  of  St.  Michael's  and  Zion  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  followed  by 
John  C.  Baker,  who  continued  until  1828,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  church 
in  Lancaster.  During  his  time  the  congregational  school  was  discontinued  and 
the  Sunday  school  established  in  1817.  In  1819,  a  new  church  was  erected,  wliich 
the  congregation  occupies  at  the  present  time.  Benjamin  Keller,  who  died  in 
18GI,  was  the  pastor  ironi  1828  till  1835,  and  he  together  Avith  hi«  predecessor, 
Dr.  John  C.  Baker,  is  held  in  pleasant  remembrance  by  the  church  until  this  day. 
His  successor,  until  1845,  was  John  W.  Kichards.  About  the  time  of  his  taking 
the  charge,  a  second  Lutheran  congregation  was  organized  in  Germantown,  under 
the  influence  of  the  so-called  "New  Measures,"  that  Avere  so  prevalent  at  the  time. 
The  next  j^astor  was  S.  Mosheim  Schmucker,  a  gifted  man,  Avho  continued  in 
charge  until  1848,  and  in  whose  time  the  use  of  the  German  language  was  entirely 
abandoned.  For  26  years  in  full,  after  1849,  the  congregation  was  served  by  Dr. 
C.  W.  Schaeffer,  avIio  is  now  Professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Phila- 
delphia. His  successor  is  the  present  pastor  F.  A.  Kaehler.  The  greater  part 
of  the  foregoing  survey  of  the  history  of  the  congregation  has  been  taken  from  an 
extended  account  furnished  by  Dr.  C.  W.  Schaeiler,  in  the  Lutheran  and 
Missionary,  April  4th  to  May  24th,  1866. 

We  have  to  admit  that  the  earliest  movements  in  the  organization  of  St. 
Michael's  congregation  in  Philadelphia  have  not  been  ascertained  Avith  historical 
accuracy.  Pastor  Jacob  Fabricius,  having  been  preaching  for  the  Lutherans 
in  Isew  York  from  1688  till  1671,  then  having  spent  some  time  in  divers  places  in 
NcAV  Jersey  and  also  in  Ncav  Castle,  then  after  1677,  five  years  after  AAdiich  he 
lost  his  eyesight,  being  engaged  for  fourteen  years  in  preaching  to  the  SAvedish 
Lutherans  in  Philadelphia,  preached  also  for  the  German  Lutherans  here, 
betAveen  1688  and  1691,  Avho,  hoAA^ever,  do  not  appear  to  have  had  a  church  nor 
even  an  organization  of  their  OAvn.  This  condition  of  affairs  continued  on  for  a 
score  of  years  and  more.  The  oldest  existing  record  of  baptisms,  marriages, 
deaths  is  dated  in  1733,  and  was  begun  by  John  C.  Stoever,  already  mentioned, 
and  Avho  describes  himself  as  "German  Evangelical  Lutheran  pastor,  noAV  here." 
He  also  records,  in  the  book,  a  description  of  certain  sacred  vessels  that  Avere  pre- 
sented to  the  congregation,  Avith  the  names  of  the  donors.  HoAvever,  from  the 
preface  and  annotations  of  the  Halle  Keports  Ave  learn,  that,  in  company  Avith  the 
delegates  Weisiger  and  Schoener,  John  Chr.  Schultze,  pastor  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Church,  Avas  sent  to  Germany  by  his  congregation  and  by  the  congregations 
at  NeAV  Hanover  and  Providence,  to  obtain  help  for  these  congregations,  in  1733. 
From  this  journey  Schultze  never  returned.  For  some  time  in  the  autumn  of 
1742,  Val.  Kraft  Avhom  we  have  already  encountered,  was  connected  AAdth  the 
Lutherans  in  Philadelphia ;  and,  in  other  places,  was  wont  to  talk  about  a  "  Con- 
sistorium  "  Avhich,  he  said,  he  had  organized  there.  The  SAvedish  pastor  Dylan- 
DER  preached,  for  the  Germans,  in  his  church  at  Wicaco,  for  more  than  a  year, 
every  Sunday,  at  eight  o'clock.  He  died  NoA^ember  3d,  1741,  about  the  time 
when  Zinzendorf,  aa'Iio  had  reached  Philadelphia  in  the  fall  of  1741,  began  to 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT.  65 

busy  himself  concerning  the  German  Lutherans  in  that  city.  The  German 
Lutherans  and  the  Reformed  held  their  public  worship  alternately  in  a  building 
that  had  served  as  a  carpenter  shop.  Zinzendorf,  whom  Ave  shall  meet  again, 
aspired  after  being  recognized  as  a  Superintendent  of  all  the  German  Lutheran 
congregations  in  the  Province,  had  the  congregation  to  give  him  a  call,  and  drew 
up  a  kind  of  a  constitution  for  them,  wdiich,  however,  lodged  all  the  power  in  the 
hands  of  the  pastor,  although  there  is  reference  made  to  a  "  Collegium  of  Elders." 
(See  Buding.  Samml.,  XVI,  p.  579  and  XVII  part,  p.  702.)  The  unaltered 
Augsburg  Confession  alone  is  mentioned  as  the  sole  symbol.  As  was  natural,  the 
congregation  as  a  whole,  was  by  no  means  satisfied  with  Zinzendorf  and  his  ways 
and  policy;  and  on  July  18th,  1742,  under  the  ministry  of  Pyrliius,  whom  Zin- 
zendorf had  appointed  as  his  substitute,  the  resistance  revealed  itself  in  a  very 
decided  form.  Of  course,  Zinzendorf  had  his  adherents  among  the  members  of 
the  church ;  but  the  congregation  itself  was  liberated  from  his  control,  and  a 
decree  of  the  civil  authorities  confirmed  the  liberation. 

The  congregation  entered  upon  a  regularly  organized  existence,  in  fact,  only 
upon  the  arrival  of  Muhlenberg,  November  25th,  1742.  True,  prior  to  that  time 
there  had  been  a  sort  of  organization,  for  the  oldest  book  of  Eecords  reports  that 
Muhlenberg  found  both  elders  and  wardens  already  in  office.  But  the  necessity 
of  a  new  constitution  pressed  upon  them,  and  the  Records  of  the  Vestry  speak  of 
divers  petitions  and  attempts  made  in  that  direction.  This  is  also  manifest  in  the 
great  increase  of  the  congregation  and  in  the  improvement  in  its  circumstances. 
We  have  no  space  here  to  enter  more  fully  into  this  subject ;  but,  in  all  essential 
points,  the  difficult  task  of  regularly  organizing  the  congregation  was  completed 
in  the  autumn  of  1762  (see  10  Continuation,  XI).  These  Fundamental  Articles 
were  confirmed  by  the  Charter  of  September  25th,  1765.  According  to  this  char- 
ter the  Church  Council  consists  of  the  rector  (or  pastor),  vestrymen  and  church 
wardens,  altogether  numbering  22.  A  separate  church  of  their  own  was  as  neces- 
sary as  a  constitution  had  been ;  and  the  corner-stone  of  St.  Michael's  Avas  laid 
June  14th,  1743 ;  the  consecration  occurred  in  1748.  This  church  had  room  for 
about  700  persons;  but  in  a  short  time,  on  account  of  the  rapid  increase  of  the 
congregation,  it  proved  to  be  far  too  small.  Besides,  about  the  middle  of  the  last 
century,  the  immigration  was  so  strong  that  in  the  year  1794  alone  12,000  souls 
are  said  to  have  landed  in  Philadelphia. 

We  have  alreadv  noticed,  that  about  five  months  after  the  arrival  of  Pastor 
Brunnholtz,  the  congregration  at  Philadelphia  was  placed  under  his  special 
charge,  whilst  Muhlenberg  ministered  to  the  congregations  in  the  country;  an 
arrangement  which  did  not  interfere  with  their  mutual  participation  in  the 
burdens  and  cares  of  their  official  work.  Yet,  in  the  congregation  at  Philadel- 
phia, Brunnholtz  had,  as  his  Assistant,  Pastor  J.  D.  M.  Heintzelman,  who  had 
landed  here  December  1st,  1751,  Avho,  however,  departed  this  life  already  in  1756, 
Brunnholtz  also  himself  folloAving  him  into  eternity,  July  5th,  1757.  His  imme- 
diate successor  in  office,  Pastor  J.  F.  Handschuh,  died  October  9th,  1764; 
Muhlenberg  himself  having  already,  in  1761,  come  to  his  assistance,  under  the 
heavy  burdens  occasioned  by  the  constant  rapid  increase  of  the  congregation  in 
Philadelphia.  During  the  preceding  year  it  had  become  necessary  to  buy  a  lot 
of  ground  for  a  school-house;  the  school  itself  Avas  opened  July  27th,  1761.  The 
house  erected  for  it  yet  stands  on  the  north  side  of  Cherry  street,  east  of  Fourth 

5 


66  NOTES  ON  THE  (fIRSt)  BRIEF  REPORT. 

street,  next  to  the  corner  house.     A  few  years  ago,  after  certain  alterations,  it 
began  to  be  occupied  as  a  place  of  business. 

Meanwhile  a  much  more  important  undertaking  demanded  the  attention  of  the 
congregation,  namely,  the  building  of  a  new  church ;  for  St.  Michael's  had,  for  a 
long  time,  proven  to  be  insulhcient  to  accommodate  the  crowds  that  worshipped 
there.  According  to  Halle  Keports,  13  Continuation,  II,  sect.  7,  the  congregation 
included  above  700  heads  of  families,  about  the  year  17G5.  These  indeed  did  not 
all  live  exactly  within  the  limits  of  the  city,  a  large  proportion  of  them  having 
their  residence  in  the  districts  immmediately  contiguous.  It  was  held  to  be  a 
matter  of  prime  importance  that  the  congregation  should  always  be  bound 
together  as  a  whole,  under  one  corporation;  an  arrangement  which  was  main- 
tained until  1867.  The  result  of  this  was,  that  throughout  the  period  of  one 
hundred  years  there  were  always  tAvo,  and,  sometimes,  even  three  pastors  associ- 
ated together ;  a  state  of  afiairs  which,  in  view  of  the  diversities  of  talents  and 
temperaments  on  the  part  of  the  pastors,  and  of  tokens  of  approbation  or  of 
unpopularity  on  the  part  of  the  people,  had  at  least  one  unattractive  side. 

Handschuh  having  died  October  9th,  1764,  Pastor  Fe.  Schultz  then  became 
the  associate  pastor  with  Muhlenberg;  and  on  May  16th,  1766,  a  lot  of  ground  at 
the  S.  E.  corner  of  Cherry  and  Fourth  streets,  opposite  the  school-house  described 
above,  only  a  few  hundred  steps  distant  from  St.  Michael's  Church,  S.  E.  corner 
of  Cherry  and  Fifth  streets,  was  purchased  for  what  at  present  would  be  equal  to 
$4,106;  the  corner  stone  was  laid  for  a  church  that  was  to  be  108  feet  long  by  70 
broad,  the  building  itself,  complete  in  all  essential  parts,  was  consecrated  as  ZiON 
Church,  June  25th,  1769,  and  stood  for  many  years  as  the  largest  and  most  im- 
posing edifice  devoted  to  the  worship  of  God,  in  all  the  land.  The  tower,  the 
walls  of  which  built,  like  the  church  itself,  of  brick,  had  been  raised  somewhat 
above  the  height  of  the  roof  was  never  completed.  One  hundred  years  afterwards 
instead  of  the  old  church  we  have  the  new,  the  Zion  Church  now  occupied  in 
Franklin  street,  west  of  Franklin  Square;  and  the  strong  old  congregation  is 
divided  off  into  several  branches  which  are  now  flourishing  in  different  parts  of 
the  city. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  formally  resigned  his  office  as  pastor  in  1779,  having  had,  after 
1770,  Dr.  John  Chr.  Kunze,  his  son-in-law,  as  his  colleague.  The  successor  of 
Muhlenberg  was  Dr.  Just.  H.  Chr.  Helmuth,  who  landed  here  in  company 
with  John  Fr.  Schmidt,  April  2d,  1769.  Dr.  Kunze  having  accepted  a  call  to 
New  York  in  1784,  Dr.  Schmidt  became  the  colleague  of  Dr.  Helmuth  in  1786; 
and  after  his  death  in  1812,  Dr.  Fr.  Schaeffer  of  Germantown  succeeded  him, 
and  served  the  congregation  until  1834.  In  consequence  of  the  infirmities  of  old 
age,  Dr.  Helmuth  having  resigned  his  office  in  1822,  he  died  in  1825,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Charles  Rudolph  Demme  who  departed  this  life  September, 
1863.  His  colleagues  were,  1833-37,  Pastor  E.  Peixotto,  1838-54  Pastor  G.  A. 
Reichert,  1854-59,  Pastor  G.  A.  Wenzel,  who,  however,  after  Dr.  Demme's 
resignation  in  1859,  continued  to  serve  as  pastor  until  1864.  Dr.  W.  J.  Mann  has 
been  pastor  since  the  year  1850. 

The  German  language,  naturally  reinforced  by  continuous  immigration,  has 
been  fully  maintained  until  the  present  day,  notwithstanding  the  fact,  that  a  very 
large  proportion  of  its  older  and  younger  members  are  natives  of  this  country. 
Of  course,  a  German-English  congregational  school,  at  present  consisting  of  two 


XOTES   ON   THE    (FIRST)    BRIEF   REPORT.  67 

divisions  with  about  130  children,  has  always  been  connected  with  the  chnrcli. 
For  further  particulars  see  the  small  volume  "  Zum  Andenken  an  die  hundertjiih- 
rige  Jubelfeier  in  der  deutschen  Evang.-Luther.  St.  Michaelis  Kirche  in  Phila- 
delphia am  14.  Junius  1843  u.  s.  w.  Pliilad.,  gedruckt  bei  Conrad  Zentner;"  und 
*'Festgruss  zum  Zions-Jubiliium,  13.  Mai  1860;  der  ganzen  Gemeinde  gewidmet 
von  ihren  Pastoren  AV.  J.  Mann  und  A.  Spseth."  Pastor  Dr.  A.  Sp^th  was  the 
colleague  of  Dr.  Mann  from  1864  till  1867,  and  at  this  time  is  Professor  in  tlie 
Theological  Seminary.  In  the  book  last  mentioned  above  there  are  references  to 
a  variety  of  historical  sources.  See  also  "  Kirchenverfassung  der  deutschen  Kv.- 
Luth.  Gemeinde  in  und  um  Philadelphia,"  which  has  appeared  in  print. 

3**  It  is  well  known,  that  during  the  period  of  the  Eeformation,  the  Anabaptist 
furor,  and  social  anarchy,  under  the  leadings  of  Thomas  Muenzer  and  Pfeifer 
(executed  in  1525),  and  afterwards,  especially,  in  the  city  of  Miinster,  under 
Knipperdolling,  John  of  Leydex,  and  others,  about  1734  and  1735,  pushed 
forward,  hand  in  hand,  until  the  Government  quenched  them  out  in  blood.  The 
better  part  of  the  Anabaptists  who  survived  were  collected  together  into  a  new  or- 
ganization by  Menno  Simon,  who  had  been  a  Komish  priest,  at  Whitmarsh,  near 
Franaker  in  Friesland,  a  province  of  the  Netherlands.  They  gradually  succeeded 
in  obtaining  toleration  in  Germany ;  and,  as  early  as  1578,  in  the  Netherlands. 
Menno  himself  never  ceased  to  maintain  the  views  of  the  earlier  Anabaptists,  who 
sought  to  supplant  the  existing  (biirgerliche)  Church,  by  a  Church  of  true  be- 
lievers; but  he  thought  to  bring  it  about  by  a  development  from  within  the 
Church  itself.  His  followers  accommodated  themselves  to  circumstances  and  de- 
parted from  his  teachings  in  divers  particulars.  They  were  of  one  mind  in  re- 
jecting infant  baptism,  and  in  the  principles  of  church  discipline ;  differing,  how- 
ever, in  their  practice,  a  "Lax"  and  a  "Strict"  party  growing  up  among  them ; 
differing  also  concerning  the  line  of  demarcation  that  should  separate  the  life  of 
the  Church  from  the  State.  The  diversity  of  views  concerning  the  adminstration 
of  church  discipline  began  already  in  the  time  of  Menno,  who  stood  with  the 
"Strict"  party.  Their  whole  conception  of  the  plan  of  salvation  is  near  akin  to 
the  ZAvinglian  and  Calvinistic  view,  and  is  opposed  to  that  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

From  1783  on  till  1803  many  Mennonites  emigrated,  especially  from  West 
Prussia  into  Southern  Russia,  under  a  pledge  of  divers  privileges  from  the  Rus- 
sian Government  and,  specially,  of  immunity  from  military  service  forever  ("auf 
ewige  Zeiten").  Within  a  few  years  the  Mennonite  community  in  our  country 
has  been  considerably  increased  by  the  arrival  of  brethren  in  their  faith,  the  di- 
rect descendants  of  those  earlier  emigrants  to  Russia. 

The  Baptists,  the  advocates  of  immersion,  in  England  and  America,  are  re- 
lated to  the  Mennonites.  They  arose  in  1633,  under  the  Independents,  who  broke 
off  from  the  established  Church  of  England.  In  America,  and  specially  in  New 
England,  they  encountered,  at  first,  a  very  decided  opposition.  They  are  cut  up 
into  many  parties,  among  themselves.  Of  several  Baptist  factions  we  shall  speak 
hereafter. 

^'  Atheists  are  people  who  deny  the  existence  of  a  God.  David  already  un- 
derstood them,  Ps.  14:  1. 

Deists  do  not  absolutely  deny  the  existence  of  a  God ;  but  fancy  that  God  is 
wholly  separated  from  the  created  world,  and  does  not  concern  Himself  about  it, 


68  NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

that  the  world  is  a  machine  that  runs  of  itself.  Accordingly,  they  deny  a  Divine 
Providence  and  Government  of  the  world ;  they  reject  also  Divine  Revelation  as 
received  by  Christians. 

Naturalists  maintain  that  Nature  is  all  in  all  and  that  there  is  no  higher 
God. 

Freemasonry  is  a  secret  association  based  upon  certain  universal  moral  princi- 
ples, and  dealing  largely  in  all  kinds  of  signs  and  symbols,  specially  such  as  are 
to  be  found  in  masonry  and  in  architecture.  It  seeks  to  enlist  the  human  race  in 
general.  It  claims  to  have  been  founded  in  a  period  of  remote  antiquity ;  but,  in 
fact,  can  be  traced  back  no  further  than  to  the  structures  erected  by  the  guilds  of 
architects  of  the  middle  ages.  The  earliest  records  upon  this  subject  date  from 
the  century  before  the  Eeformation.  It  can  be  shown  that  already  in  the  17th 
century,  men  of  learning  and  of  rank  were  initiated  as  members  of  societies  of  the 
art  of  masons  and  sculptors.  At  the  time  of  the  death  of  King  William  of 
Orange,  1702,  there  were  four  Lodges  in  London.  By  them  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  England  was  organized.  After  that  time,  when  free-thinking  was  very  preva- 
lent amongst  people  of  rank  and  culture.  Freemasonry  started  up  into  importance, 
spread  itself  out  over  France,  Germany  and  other  European  countries,  and  was 
translated  also  to  the  New  World.  (See  a  mournful  account  from  Philadelphia, 
in  connection  with  this  subject,  in  Acta  Hist.  Eccles.,  II,  p.  1053,  etc.,  of  the  year 
1737.)  The  immense  popularity,  however,  of  this  and  of  other  secret  societies  be- 
longs to  the  present  century.  Matt.  15 :  13. 

'■^'^  John  Conrad  Dippel,  who  wrote  under  the  name  of  Christianus  Demo- 
CRiTUS,  was  born  at  Frankenstein  in  Hesse,  1673,  and  died  1734,  at  the  Castle  of 
Wittgenstein,  not  far  from  Berleburg.  (See  Acta  Hist.  Eccles.,  I,  p.  390,  etc.) 
Berleburg  was  the  place  of  refuge  for  divers  sorts  of  fanatics.  Here  also  was  the 
native  place  of  the  famous  Berleburg  Bible,  which,  prepared  by  divers  hands, 
but  especially  by  J.  F.  Haug,  attempted,  under  the  pretence  of  penetrating  more 
deeply  into  the  hidden  meaning  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  by  a  phraseology 
that  referred  everything,  out  and  out  to  the  development  of  the  divine  life  in  the 
soul,  to  overthrow  the  biblical,  evangelical  doctrine  of  justification,  to  exalt  Christ 
in  us  instead  of  Christ  for  us,  to  magnify  sanctification  instead  of  justification, 
and  consequently,  to  propagate  a  religion  of  righteousness  by  works.  True,  the 
methods  and  example  of  most  influential  orthodox  theologians  and  pastors  were 
olten  so  utterly  destitute  of  the  anointing  from  on  high  as  to  afibrd  some  excuse 
for  these  unhealthy  excrescences. 

Dippel's  youth  had  been  one  of  restless  agitation;  he  was  always  pushing 
around  to  learn  a  little  of  everything ;  and,  indeed,  all  through  his  life  he  lived 
an  adventurer.  At  first  he  entered  the  lists  on  the  side  of  Orthodoxy  against 
Pietism ;  afterwards  made  a  hateful  attack  upon  the  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran 
Church ;  rejected  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  denied  the  efficacy  of 
the  Sacraments ;  and  instead  of  faith  in  the  vicarious  sufferings  of  Christ,  taught 
the  necessity  of  self-sacrifice  on  the  part  of  man.  Having  been  arrested  and  le- 
gally prosecuted  for  his  peculiar  teachings,  he  wandered  around  from  place  to 
place,  now  in  Giessen,  then  in  Darmstadt,  then  lost  all  he  had  through  his  in- 
fatuation for  alchemy,  then  lived  a  while  in  Berlin  but  had  to  make  iiis  escape 
thence,  went  afterwards  to  Frankford-on-the-Main,  then  to  Amsterdam,  had  him- 
self dubbed  doctor  of  the  healing  art  in  Leyden,  was  driven  out  of  Holland  by 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  69 

the  Government,  was  imprisoned  at  Altona,  for  seven  years  Ly  the  Danes,  for 
being  too  free  with  his  tongue,  then  went  to  Stockholm  whence  he  was  soon 
ordered  off,  then  kej)t  on  roving  about,  until  he  found  a  place  of  refuge,  at  hist,  in 
Berleburg.  He  spread  his  fanatical  notions  abroad  by  his  writings,  and  disciples 
gathered  around  him.  Though  peculiarly  gifted  with  glittering  talents,  he  was 
deficient  in  the  meek  simplicity  of  faith  and  in  sobriety  of  spirit.  His  heart  and 
his  head  were  as  unsteady  as  his  life.  The  hyihn  which  he  composed  "  O  Jesu, 
sieh  darein  und  hilf  mir  Armen  siegen,"  gives  us  a  glimpse  into  his  personal  ex- 
perience, is  an  indication  of  his  gifts,  and  indeed,  has  been  introduced  into  many 
hymn  books  in  recent  times.  His  theological  system  has  been  briefly  exhibited 
in  Yal.  E.  Loescher's  Unschuld.  Nachr.,  1702,  p.  766,  etc.,  Waech,  Eelig. 
Streitigk.  in  der  Luth.  Kirche,  Thl.  I,  p.  764.  II,  p.  721. 

^^  A  i^ound  sterling : — The  derivation  of  the  term  which  arose  in  England  under 
Richard  I,  about  1190,  is  obscure.  It  is  regarded  as  an  abbreviation  of  the  Avord 
EasterUng,  an  oriental  coin  introduced  into  England,  or  produced  there  by  dis- 
tinguished coiners  from  the  East.  The  pound  sterling  is  now  represented  by  the 
Sovereign,  a  gold  coin  of  the  value  of  $4.84.  The  pound,  as  it  was  estimated  at 
that  time,  in  Pennsylvania,  was,  according  to  the  text,  equal  to  $2.42.  However, 
according  to  the  valuation  of  the  present  day,  it  is  generally  held  that  three 
pounds,  Pennsylvania  currency,  are  about  equal  to  eight  dollars  in  gold.  (See  also 
Preface  to  10th  Continuation,  Sect.  III.) 

'*  That  is,  in  parts  of  the  city  which,  a  few  years  before,  had  not  been  occupied 
by  dwellings.  It  is  not  usual  to  erect  a  church  beyond  the  built-up  portions  of  a 
city.  Otherwise,  there  was  plenty  of  room  for  a  church  round  about  Philadelphia, 
as  it  tlien  was.  St.  Michael's  Church,  subsequently  erected  in  Fifth  street,  north 
of  Arch,  stood  near  the  middle  of  the  city,  running  north  and  south ;  but  on  its 
extreme  western  border  as  it  existed  at  the  time. 

^^  That  is,  according  to  present  valuation,  §280  in  gold.  In  view  of  the  scarcity 
of  money  then  prevailing,  and  of  the  circumstances  of  by  far  the  largest  number 
of  contributors,  that  was  certainly  a  very  encouraging  ohering. 

^  This  refers  to  the  ground  on  which  St.  Michael's  was  afterwards  built,  on 
Fifth  street,  corner  of  Appletree  alley,  south  of  Race  street.  The  graveyard  ex- 
tended north  of  the  church  toward  Race  street.  That  portion  that  lay  north  of 
Cherry  street  began  to  be  occupied  by  buildings  30  years  ago. 

3^  The  steeple,  itself  a  wooden  structure,  was,  in  fact,  put  up  ;  but  the  bells  were 
never  hung  in  it,  and  the  steeple  itself  was  taken  down  again  in  1750.  Kalm, 
the  Swedish  traveller,  in  his  description  of  Philadelphia,  states  that  the  reason 
for  this  removal  was  the  fact,  that  a  bungling  builder  had  erected  the  steeple  before 
the  masonry  of  the  walls  had  become  sufliciently  dry,  and  the  walls  had  begun  to 
crack,  as  the  result.  Pastor  Ilandschuh  reports  to  the  same  effect  in  9th  Continu- 
ation, from  the  year  1758.  On  the  first  leaf  of  tlie  congregational  protocol  we 
find  the  words :  "  Begun  by  me,  John  Casp.  Stover,  at  present  German  Ev.  Luth. 
pastor,  here,  A.  D.  1733";  and,  under  date  of  February  7th,  1750,  Pastor  Brunn- 
holtz  writes  as  follows:  "By  23  affirmative  votes  against  8  negative  it  has  been 
resolved  that  it  is  most  advisable  to  remove  the  steeple ;  and  that  it  shall  not  be 
re-erected  until  further  orders."  This  may  be  considered  as  an  indication  of  the 
confidence  placed  upon  the  administration  of  these  31  individuals.  They  consisted 
of  7  elders,  4  wardens,  certain  members  of  the  church  as  advisory,  and,  in  addition 


70  NOTES    ON   THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

to  all,  the  pastor  himself.  Under  date  of  November  1st,  1750,  the  record  is ;  "A. 
meeting  of  the  vestry  was  held  to  consider  the  security  of  the  church,  in  relation 
to  the  steeple.  Muhlenberg  made  an  address  about  the  steeple  and  about  the 
organ, — it  must  be  kept  dry  ; — girders  sawn  oil"; — too  light  to  bear  the  steeple ; — 
if  we  want  to  have  an  organ  we  must  give  up  the  steeple; — we  must  be  concerned 
only  about  the  security  of  the  building ; — it  was  well  meant  in  the  beginning ; 
was,  indeed,  necessary  on  account  of  the  Moravians.  The  meeting  resolved  that 
the  steeple  must  come  down.  Few  words  were  said,  but  calmly  and  quietly — ." 
This  is  the  way  the  protocol  was  kept  at  the  time.  So  wrote  Pastor  Bninnholtz 
himself,  in  a  somewhat  running,  but  not  very  legible  hand. 

^^  This  is  a  remarkable  statement.  The  free  exercise  of  his  religion  was  ac- 
corded to  every  person  in  the  land,  of  course.  But  the  colonial  government  never 
passed  any  specific  laws  by  way  of  defining  what  was  comprehended  in  this  free 
exercise  of  religion;  except  that,  as  we  shall  see,  Protestants  were  the  people 
distinctly  referred  to  in  the  laws  that  had  a  bearing  upon  the  concerns  of  the 
church.  But  for  this  very  reason  the  old  English  Law  was  continued  in  tlie  land, 
by  tacit  consent ;  and  this  law  extended  to  dissenters  the  right  of  assembKng  in 
their  "  Meeting  Houses,"  which  however,  does  not  include  the  privilege  of  build- 
ing churches  furnished  with  steeples  and  bells.  The  Lutherans  built  a  church 
and  erected  a  steeple.  It  would  be  hard  to  show  what  special  privilege  they 
could  claim  for  so  doing.  At  all  events,  no  one  ever  entered  complaint  against 
them.  Was  the  doing  of  it  in  any  wise  connected  with  the  supposed  relationship 
between  the  Lutheran  Church  and  the  Church  of  England ;  or  with  the  circum- 
stance that  the  reigning  King  of  England,  although  himself  head  of  the  estab- 
lished Church  maintained  Lutheran  pastors  at  his  court  ?  However,  we  must  not 
forget  that  Episcopalians  acknowledged  the  ordination  of  the  Moravians  as  hav- 
ing a  legitimate  succession,  which  they  did  not  admit  concerning  Lutheran  ordi- 
nation. (See  Oehler's  Symbolik,  1876,  p.  313.)  The  language  of  the  text  clearly 
intimates  that,  in  putting  up  the  steeple,  the  congregation  at  Philadelphia  had 
acted  in  accordance  with  some  kind  of  sj^ecial  privilege  or  right  which  they  pos- 
sessed. The  language  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz  also,  just  quoted  "necessary  on  account 
of  the  Moravians "  seems  to  prove  that  in  erecting  a  steeple  the  Lutheran  Church 
exercised  its  liberty,  and  intended,  by  that  act,  to  give  some  expression  of  its 
peculiar  spirit,  and  to  indicate  its  independence  as  distinct  from  the  fellowship  of 
the  Moravians. 

However,  the  German  Reformed  congregation  in  Germantown  had  a  bell  on 
their  place  of  worship  after  1725,  and  in  1748,  the  Swedish  traveller  Prof.  Peter 
Kalm  saw  a  Presbyterian  church  with  steeple  and  bells  in  Kew  Jersey.  The 
Assembly  legislating  for  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  enacted  a  law,  January 
4th,  1730,  which  extended  to  all  churches  and  congregations  of  Protestants, 
the  right,  as  such,  to  purchase  and  hold  groimd  for  grave-yards,  church  and  school 
buildings  and  the  like  purposes,  as  also  to  plead  and  be  impleaded  before  the  law. 
(See  Laws  of  the  Commonw.  of  Pa.,  republ.  by  the  authority  of  the  Legisl.,  1810, 
Vol.  I,  p.  191—194.)  True,  congregations  had  purchased  property  even  before 
that  law  was  enacted ;  but  the  transaction  was  always  done  by  the  intervention  of 
personal  trustees ;  and  churches,  at  times,  suffered  loss  in  consequence. 

3»  M.  Gabriel  Naesmanx,  who  landed  in  Philadelphia,  October  20th,  1743. 
Acrelius'  Hist.,  etc.,  p.  241,  etc.  Halle  Reports,  1st  Continuation,  Sect.  9 ;  3d  Con- 
tinuation, I,  Sect.  12. 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT.  71 

*®  See  1st  Continuation,  Sect.  12.  At  that  time,  in  Pennsylvania,  people  could 
be  imprisoned  for  debt;  and  even  though  the  non-payment  was  not  their  own 
fault. 

*'  Among  believing  people  in  Germany  benevolent  contributions  were  collected 
for  the  Germans  in  America  as  for  a  missionary  field.  In  this  work  reguhirly 
established  Church  Authorities  also  participated,  for  instance,  the  Ecclesiastical 
Council  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  3d  Continuation,  Sect.  26.  See  also  Muhlenberg's 
letter  of  1753,  8th  Continuation,  VI.  A  contribution  from  the  Ecclesiastical  Funds 
of  WuRTEMBERa  is  also  mentioned  in  3d  Continuation,  Sect.  23.  In  a  word, 
there  are  frequent  references  to  such  beneficent  acts.  They  helped  to  build  up 
the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  new  world,  and  proved  to  be  profitable  investments. 
Congregations  of  other  confessions  were  assisted  in  like  manner  by  the  old  coun- 
tries from  which  tliey  came,  England,  Holland,  etc.  As  to  the  Swedes,  the 
Church  Authorities  in  their  mother  country  felt  themselves  officially  bound  to 
take  care  of  them. 

*'^  As  a  general  survey  we  oflTer  the  following:  Pastor  Brunnholz  was  associated 
with  Muhlenberg  as  the  second  pastor  of  the  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New 
Hanover,  New  Providence  and  Germantown.  The  sphere  of  their  labors  was  now 
enlarged,  and  Kurtz  and  Schaum,  who  shall  be  noticed  afterwards,  assisted  them, 
specially  in  preaching  and  as  teachers  of  the  congregational  schools,  the  specific 
design  of  which,  very  propably  was,  to  furnish  religious  instruction  also.  Pastor 
Brunnholtz,  being  of  weak  constitution,  found  himself,  in  a  few  months,  unable  to 
endure  the  hardships  of  serving  the  congregations  in  the  country  to  which  he  had 
to  travel  on  horseback  by  wretched  roads,  fording  streams  in  heat  and  cold, 
through  rain  and  snow.  So  he  retained  charge  only  of  the  congregation  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  also  of  the  neighboring  church  in  Germantown.  The  Halle  Reports 
often  bear  testimony  to  the  zeal  of  his  official  labors.  He  attached  much  import- 
ance to  the  method  of  teaching  the  adults  by  questions  and  answers,  on  the  occa- 
sions of  public  worship.  In  1751  he  transferred  the  congregation  in  Germantcnvn 
to  Pastor  Handschuh.  The  building  of  St.  Michael's  Church  in  Philadelphia 
was  finally  completed  under  Pastor  Brunnholtz  (1745-47).  His  physical  strength, 
however,  was  unable  to  endure,  for  any  great  length  of  time,  the  heavy  burdens 
of  his  office;  and  after  only  13  years  of  laborious  toil  this  diligent  and  gifted  pas- 
tor fell  asleep,  July  17th,  1758.  He  had  never  married.  He  bequeathed  his 
library  to  the  congregation  in  Philadelphia.  See  9th  Continuation,  I,  5.  Tliis 
library  was,  at  first,  in  an  upper  room  of  a  building  annexed  to  St.  Michael's 
Church  ;  afterwards,  as  far  as  we  can  ascertain,  it  was  placed  in  book-cases  in  the 
vestry-room  of  Zion  Church,  erected  1760-69,  where  it  was  very  seriously  dam- 
aged by  the  great  fire  on  the  day  after  Christmas  1794.  The  vt)lumes  that  were 
saved  passed,  partly,  into  private  hands,  and  partly  into  the  library  of  the  Lu- 
theran Theological  Seminary  now  in  Philadelphia.  The  memory  of  Brunnholtz 
continues  to  be  held  in  honor  for  his  great  activity  in  works  of  beneficence,  and 
for  his  devotion  of  self  to  the  service  of  others.  See  9th  Continuation,  IV.  Letter 
of  Muhlenberg,  1758;  also.  Appendix  to  1st  Continuation,  the  interesting  state- 
ments from  the  Halle  Archives,  furnisiied  by  Dr.  W.  Germann. 

John  Helfrich  Schaum  was  the  son  of  a  pious  schoolmaster  at  Muench- 
HOLZHAUSEN,  near  to  Giessen,  the  seat  of  the  University  in  the  Grand  Dukedom 
of  Hesse-Darmstadt.  The  father's  letters,  abounding  in  wholesome  admonitions, 


72  XOTES   ox   THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF   REPORT. 

followed  the  son  even  into  the  field  of  liis  labors  in  Pennsylvania.  Schanm  him- 
self had  been  regularly  trained  in  the  Frankean  Institutions  and  educated  at  the 
L'niversity  of  Halle.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia  his  chief  work  was  that 
of  teacher  in  the  congregational  school ;  but  he  preached  also,  and  specially  in 
Gerniantown.  (Halle  Keports,  12th  Continuation,  Journal  of  Muhlenberg,  1763.) 
After  a  short  time  we  find  him  at  Somerset,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  appointed  to 
serve  as  assistant  until  the  arrival  of  a  pastor  who  was  expected  from  Germany. 
In  the  same  capacity  he  went  to  Karitan,  N.  J.,  in  the  spring  of  1747  as  "being 
sent  by  the  ordained  pastors,  Muhlenberg  and  Brunnholtz."  He  was  directed  to 
be  careful  to  keep  a  diary  of  his  official  acts,  to  be  circumspect  in  his  walk  and 
conversation,  to  conform  closely  to  the  prescribed  Order  of  Public  Worship,  and 
to  catechise  the  children  for  half  an  hour  after  the  regular  services  on  Sundays. 
He  was  allowed  also  to  baptize  and  to  unite  persons  in  marriage.  (Halle  Keports, 
5th  Continuation,  I,  Muhlenberg's  Letter,  1748.)  In  the  spring  of  1748  he  was 
sent  to  the  congregation  at  York,  Pa.,  and  ordained  at  a  meeting  of  the  Synod  at 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  in  1749.  (Halle  Eeports,  6th  Continuation,  I,  II.)  Many  Divine 
blessings  attended  his  work  in  York  and  its  vicinity,  where  he  labored  for  seven 
years,  although  he  doubtless  often  felt  himself  prevented,  by  bodily  infirmities, 
from  extending  his  operations  through  a  wider  sphere.  In  1750  whilst  upon  a 
journey  to  Earitan,  N.  J.,  in  company  with  Handschuh,  he  met  with  a  serious 
injury  in  one  of  his  lower  limbs,  from  which  he  suffered  for  years,  and  for  a  long 
time  was  not  able  to  preach.  (Halle  Eeports,  7th  Continuation,  II.)  On  account 
of  certain  disturbances  a  part  of  the  congregation  forsook  him  in  1753,  and  at- 
tached themselves  to  a  young  intru^ler,  who  had  come  from  Maryland,  probably, 
LrDWiG  HocHHEiMER,  who  afterwards  went  to  South  Carolina.  Schaum  greatly 
enjoyed  the  exchange  of  letters  with  his  brethren  in  office ;  and  so  much  the  more 
on  account  of  the  difficulties  that  were  in  the  Avay  of  personal  intercourse.  In 
1755  he  accepted  a  call  to  Tohicon  now  Friedens  Church,  Bedminster,  Bucks 
county,  Pa.,  and  to  the  congregations  in  the  neighborhood ;  where,  however,  he 
endured  many  privations.  In  1759  he  moved  to  New  Hanover,  Falkner's  Swamp, 
preaching  also  in  the  congregations  at  Oley,  Pikeland,  Lower  Dublin,  and,  every 
fourth  Sunday,  at  Providence,  in  the  place  of  Muhlenberg.  In  1761  he  declined  a 
call  to  Frederick,  Md.  In  the  spring  of  1762  he  added  several  other  congrega- 
tions to  his  charge.  In  1763  he  lived  at  Weitendahl  (Whitehall),  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.  As  the  church  at  Mosellem  had  become  vacant  in  consequence  of 
Hausile's  departure  to  Easton,  he  accepted  a  call  to  that  congregation  and  re- 
mained there  until  his  death,  Jan.  26tli,  1778.  (See  16th  Continuation,  II.)  His 
place  was  supplied  for  several  months  by  Pastor  H.  E.  Muhlenberg.  His  actual 
successor  in  the  charge  was  Daxiel  Lehman. 

John  Nicolas  Kurtz,  older  than  his  brother  William  whom  we  shall  meet 
hereafter,  was  born  at  Luetzellinden,  a  few  miles  from  Giessen,  in  what  was 
then  the  principality  of  Nassau-Weilburg,  in  the  circle  of  Wetzlar,  now  a 
Prussian  Province,  on  the  Ehein.  He  also  descended  from  a  family  of  educators. 
In  his  fifteenth  year  his  father  sent  him  to  the  high  school  at  Giessen  and  after- 
wards to  the  University  of  Halle.  There,  whilst  yet  a  student  of  Theology,  he 
received  and  accepted,  at  the  same  time  with  Schaum,  an  invitation  to  emigrate 
to  America ;  and  both  of  them  joined  Brunnholtz,  Avho  had  already  had  a  call  to 
Pennsylvania.     They  arrived  in  Philadelphia  Jan.  26th,  1745.     (Halle.  Nachr., 


NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  73 

pp.  30,  41,  63.)     Kurtz,  at  once,  occupied  the  newly  built  schoolhouse  at  New 
Hanover,  acting  as  teacher  and  catechist;  at  first,  subordinate  to  Mr.  Vigera, 
afterwards  as  the  principal,  yet  always  being  the  "assistant"  of  Muhlenberg. 
(Halle.  Nachr.,  pp.  27,  45.)     The  school  required  great  diligence  on  his  part,  and 
prosi)ered  under  his  care;  the  congregation  being  well  satisfied  with  his  work  (p. 
38.)     Some  time  during  the  year  1745  he  was  sent  to  Readingstown  (Karitan), 
N.  J.,  (p.  189).     In  March,  1746,  he  went,  for  a  season,  to  the  congregation  at  Co- 
HENZi  (Salem,  N.  J.) ;  paid  a  visit  in  the  same  year  to  Raritan,  N.  J.,  and  was 
also  sent  by  Muhlenberg  to  Allemangel,  Saccum  and  Upper  Milford  (pp.  177, 
186,  etc.).  'About  the  end  of  this  year  he  began  his  work  at  Tulpehokon  and 
vicinity,  where  he  labored  faithfully  and  stood  high  in  honor  for  16  years  (pp. 
248,  675,  etc.).     He  occupied   a   parsonage  near  Christ   Church,  in  which  he 
preached;  he  preached  also  in  the  Old  Reeds,  or  first  Tulpehokon  Church,  at 
Northkill,  at  Heidelberg,  or  the  Eck  Kirche,  which  he  had  built  in  1750,  at 
Atolher  or  Rehrersburg"  and,  probably,  in  several  other  places.     The  congrega- 
tions of  that  district  had  succeeded  in  their  petition  to  the  Synod  at  Philadelphia 
to  appoint  him  as  their  pastor ;  he  was,  accordingly,  examined  and  ordained  at 
once,  and,  having  delivered  a  written  obligation,  he  was  formally  installed  into 
his  oflftce  (p.  77,  etc.).     At  first,  he  had  his  home  at  the  residence  of  Conrad  AVei- 
ser.     Shortly  afterwards  he  married  Anna  Elizabeth  Seidel  at  New  Hanover, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Muhlenberg,  Dec.  9th,  1747.     He  had  eight 
sons  and  three  daughters  born  in  Tulpehokon.     The  youngest  son,  John  Daniel, 
was  born  March  30th,  1764.     In  a  letter  of  the  year  1757  he  styles  Muhlenberg 
his  god-father  (Gevatter— p.  704.)     During  the  years  of  the  wars  with  the  Indians 
he  had  hard  times  (pp.  708,  715) ;  but  held  out  manfully,  and  about  1759  his  cir- 
cumstances began  to  improve  (p.  730).     We  find  him  present  at  the  meetings  of 
Synod;  and,  on  such  an  occasion  in  Philadelphia  in  1751,  he  preached  "a  pretty 
long,  and  yet  an  edifying  sermon"  (pp.  533,  834).     In  1761,  Muhlenberg,  who 
had  resumed  his  work  in  Philadelphia,  conferred  with  him  about  his  taking 
charge  of  New  Hanover  and  Providence,  and  about  going  on  a  visitation  to  New 
York  (p.  870).     This  visitation  he  undertook  in  company  with  Provost  Wran- 
GEL,  Sept.  29th,  1761,  and  returned  with  Pastor  Brycelius  in  March,  1762.     To 
our  regret,  the  report  of  this  visitation  to  the  churches  of  New  York  and  New 
Jersevis  yet  lacking.     During  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  Philadelphia,  June, 
1762,'at  the  request  of  Muhlenberg,  he  preached  in  the  congregations  at  Barren- 
hill  and  Germantown,  and  again  in  November,  1762  (pp.  917,  927,  939).     These 
congregations  then  called  him,  as  their  pastor;  which  was  the  occasion  of  trouble 
in  the  TOUgregations  at  Tulpehokon  and  vicinity.     This,  however,  was  settled  by 
Muhlenberg;  and  it  was  finallv  arranged,  that  Kurtz  should  not  absolutely  resign 
the  charge  at  Tulpehokon,  and  that  he  should  continue  to  administer  the  Lord's 
Supper  there,  at  the  usual  times.     He  went  to  work  then  in  Germantown,  where 
matters  soon  got  into  better  condition  and  where  the  believing  part  of  the  congre- 
gation were,  by  a  decree  of  the  Court,  put  in  possession  of  the  church  property. 
In  October,  1763,  he  paid  a  visit  to  Tulpehokon  (p.  1135).     In  April,  1763,  Muh- 
lenberg speaks  of  him  as  having  "already  become  old  and  delicate  in  consequence 
of  constant  riding  on  horseback,"  and  it  is  probable  that  the  hope  was  cherished 
that  a  quieter  time  in  Germantown  would  contribute  to  the  recovery  of  his  physical 
strength  (p.  1148).     In  Oct.,  1763,  he  served  as  Secretary  of  the  Synod  (p.  1124). 


74  NOTES    ON    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF   REPORT. 

Meanwhile,  the  state  of  affairs  at  Tolpehokon,  where  his  brother  William  had 
been  occupying  his  house,  demanded  his  return,  at  least  for  a  time ;  and  so  we  lind 
liim  there  June  7th,  1764  (p.  1160).  In  1769  he  was  called  to  York,  Pa.,  where, 
for  several  years,  there  had  been  no  resident  Lutheran  pastor;  John  G.  Bagek, 
from  the  neighboring  town  of  Hanover,  having  rendered  the  congregation  an  oc- 
casional service.  (Lvang.  Magaz.,  II,  21 ;  Kauss'  Memorial,  by  Eev.  Dr.  L.  A. 
Gotwald,  York,  Pa. ;  Sprague's  Annals,  p.  22.)  He  continued  lor  many  years  to 
labor  according  to  his  strength,  in  and  around  Y^'ork.  During  these  years  he  is 
said  to  have  done  much  missionary  work  in  the  western  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
Maryland  and  Virginia,  visiting  existing  congregations,  and  organizing  new  ones, 
being,  during  the  latter  years,  assisted  by  his  son-in-law.  Pastor  Goeeing.  We 
meet  him  again,  in  attendance  at  the  First  District  Conference,  at  Kew^  Holland, 
in  November,  1771.  In  1778  Muhlenberg  describes  him  as  "old  and  feeble, 
wearied  by  the  cares  of  his  office  as  President,  and  anxiously  longing  for  rest" 
(p.  1412).  As  late  as  1784  he  attended  the  Synod  at  Lancaster.  In  1792  he 
moved  to  Baltimore,  to  the  residence  of  his  son.  Pastor  J,  D.  Kurtz,  who  had 
charge  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  there.  He  died  there  May  12tli,  1794.  He 
was  grandfather  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Kurtz,  who  died  in  1866,  and  who  had  been 
for  many  years  editor  of  the  Lutheran  Observer  (Evang.  Rev.,  VI,  261 ;  VII,  152, 
527 ;  XV,  161,  etc.).  John  Nic.  Kurtz  was  the  first  Evang.  Lutheran  pastor  ever 
ordained  by  a  Synod  in  the  New  World.  He  died  bearing  the  honors  of  "Senior 
Ministerii,"  after  46  years  of  pastoral  labor. 

The  ordination  of  the  Swedish  candidate  Malander  by  the  Pastors  Tranberg 
and  Dylander  in  1741,  had  been  authorized  by  orders,  to  that  effect,  sent  from 
Sweden.  But  Dylander  died  before  the  instructions  had  arrived,  and  the  ordina- 
tion was  never  performed,  Acrelius  p.  330.  The  ordination  of  Justus  Falckner 
will  be  noticed  in  6th  Continuation,  I.  Muhlenberg's  Report,  etc.,  1750.  Acts 
that  were  intended  to  answer  as  ordinations  were  occasionally  j)erformed,  and  cor- 
responded to  the  general  looseness  that  prevailed.  In  1733,  or  shortly  before, 
Pastor  Schultze  is  said  to  have  ordained  John  C.  Stoever  in  a  barn,  for  public 
worship  was  here  and  there  held  in  barns,  on  account  of  the  lack  of  more  conve- 
nient places,  as  was  the  case  in  Providence  until  1743,  and  in  other  parts.  These 
occurrences,  however,  are  to  be  regarded  not  as  extraordinary,  but  as  disorderly. 
.(See  Bueding.  Samml.,  12,  Vol.  V,  p.  832.)  In  a  private  letter  of  Aug.  6th,  1747, 
now  in  the  library  of  the  Hist.  Soc.  at  Gettysburg,  Muhlenberg  incidentally  re- 
marks :  "  When  a  man  is  ordained  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  he  must  have  a 
certain  specified  field  of  labor  assigned  to  him."  This  principle  was  maintained 
both  by  himself  and  by  his  associates. 

Respecting  the  ordination  in  the  "barn,"  referred  to  above,  see  the  very  sensible 
report  written,  if  Ave  mistake  not,  by  the  "  Inspirationist "  Gruber,  II,  found  in 
"Bewahrten  Nachr.  iiber  Herrnhut'Sachen,"  von  J.  Ph.  Fresenius,  III,  p.  548, 
etc. ;  also  "  Die  Tulpehokon  Confusion,"  vom  Herrnhut.  Meurer. 

*■*  The  word  Cantores  signifies  Singers,  Leaders  of  the  singing ;  yet  it  is  often 
taken  to  mean  the  teachers  in  Christian  congregational  schools,  Avho  were  accus- 
tomed also  to  lead  the  singing  at  public  worship,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor, 
to  read  the  prayers,  the  Scriptures  and  a  sermon  for  the  assembled  congregation. 
In  the  1st  Continuation  those  two  men  are  called  Catechists,  i.  e.,  persons  who 
Avere  authorized  to  teach,  to  preach,  and  in  extreme  cases,  to  baptize,  but  who  had 


APPENDIX    TO    THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT.  75 

not  yet  been  regularly  ordained  to  the  holy  office.  In  2d  Continuation,  Section  6^ 
they  are  called  Helpers,  Assistants.  It  appears  from  the  Church  liecords  of  that 
time,  e.  g.,  Kew  Providence,  that  they  administered  baptism.  In  the  Journal  of 
Muhlenberg,  July  8th,  1762,  it  may  be  seen  that  the  President  of  the  Synod  ac- 
corded to  a  Candidate  who  had  just  passed  his  examination,  the  right  to  perform 
"actus  ministeriales,"  which  privilege  was,  in  later  times,  enjoyed  by  the  so-called 
Licentiates.  In  this  sense  the  word  License  is  to  be  found  in  Halle  Nachr., 
p.  1415. 

**  This  good  friend  was  the  Grand  Stewardess  von  Muenchhalsen  in  Hanover. 
Brunnhqltz  speaks  of  her  in  his  letter  of  April  21st,  1744.  (See  Appendix  to  1st 
Continuation.) 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (FIRST)  BRIEF 
REPORT. 

STATEMENTS  FROM  THE  ARCHIVES  OF  THE  FRANCKEAN 
INSTITUTIONS  AT  HALLE.* 


I. 

WEISIGER'S  SHORT  ACCOUNT  CONCERNING 
AMERICA. 

A  new  Colony  under  the  name  of  Pennsylvania  having  been  founded 
in  the  last  century  in  America  or  what  is  also  called  West  India,  it  is 
well  known  in  what  manner  many  German  Protestants,  from  the  Pala- 
tinate and  other  regions,  emigrated  thither,  that  they  might  enjoy  free- 
dom of  religion  and  of  conscience ;  so  many  indeed,  that  they  occupy 
and  cultivate  a  large  portion  of  the  land.     Yet,  for  quite  a  long  time 

■^  We  present  here  a  series  of  documents  copied  from  papers  in  the  Arcliives  of 
the  Franckean  Institutions  and  furnished  by  Dr.  W.  Germann.  They  throw  suffi- 
cient light  upon  the  difficulties  that  attended  the  efforts  to  secure  pastors  for  the 
German  Lutherans  in  Pennsylvania.  The  document  published  by  Weisiger  at 
Hildesheim  is  also  given.  In  "Sammlung  auserlesener  Materien  zum  Bau  des 
Eeiches  Gottes,"  Art.  24,  Part  7,  I  rankfurt  and  Leipzig,  there  is  a  recommenda- 
tion in  favor  of  Weisiger  and  of  his  object  to  collect  money  for  the  congregations 
in  Peunsvlvania;  also  a  document  proceeding  from  the  elders  of  the  churches  at 
Philadelphia,  New  LEanover  and  Providence ;  and  which  they  had  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  delegates.  Besides,  there  is  the  official  attestation  of  Gov.  Gordon, 
of  Pennsylvania,  oi  May  1st,  1733,  and  a  commendatory  letter  of  Ziegenhagen's, 
dated  Jan.  28th,  1734.     See  also  Acta  Hist.  Eccles.,  Vol.  I,  Part  2,  p.  165,  etc. 


76  APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT. 

they  have  been  living  without  the  services  of  competent  teachers  and 
pastors,  as  also  without  schools;  and  the  consequence  is  that  many 
have  wandered  oif  from  the  lite  of  the  Church  and  have  strayed  far  in 
divers  crooked  ways.  Many  indeed,  have  deeply  felt  the  necessity  of 
regular  teachers  and  of  schools,  both  for  their  own  beneht  and  for  the 
proper  education  of  their  children ;  and  therefore  opened  several  schools 
in  Philadelphia  and  provided  for  their  regular  instructions.  Yet,  on 
account  of  the  increase  in  the  number  of  congregations  and  of  children, 
this  provision  was  found  to  be  insufficient  to  meet  the  growing  demand  ; 
and  at  the  same  time,  teachers  who  would  really  take  to  heart  the  in- 
struction of  children  and  the  spiritual  edification  of  adults,  and  who 
had  themselves  the  necessary  qualifications  for  this  work,  were  very 
seldom  to  be  found. 

In  each  of  the  three  towns  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Provi- 
dence, and  immediate  vicinity,  there  are  five  hundred  German  fami- 
lies, more  or  less,  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  faith.  These  three  con- 
gregations have  joined  together  in  the  Name  of  God,  and  with  praver 
for  His  gracious  helj),  to  endeavor  to  secure  the  services  of  faithful  and 
competent  teachers,  and  to  build  a  church  in  each  place,  in  order  that 
they  may  hereafter  enjoy  the  preaching  of  the  Gosj^el  and  maintain  the 
usual  exercises  of  public  Avorship.  They  contemplate  also,  with  equal 
earnestness,  the  establishment  of  schools  for  the  instruction  of  their 
children. 

They  have  obtained  permission  from  his  majesty,  the  king  of  Eng- 
land, to  prosecute  this  work ;  but  they  are  not  able,  by  their  own 
means  alone,  to  accomplish  it.  Accordingly,  they  have  been  encour- 
aged to  send  to  England  and  Germany,  John  Christian  Schultze,  who 
has  been  their  pastor,  and  the  Christian  brethren,  Daniel  Weisiger  and 
John  Daniel  Schoner,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  from  our  brethren 
in  the  faith,  their  benevolent  contributions  towards  the  building  of  the 
needful  churches  and  schoolhouses.  Daniel  Weisiger,  one  of  the  dele- 
gates, having  come  to  Germany,  has  already,  in  several  places,  received 
generous  contributions  from  benevolent  friends.  But  as  it  is  impossi- 
ble for  him  personally  to  visit  all  parts  of  Germany,  he  hereby  pub- 
lishes his  commission,  in  the  name  of  the  said  Evang.  Luth.  Congrega- 
tions in  Philadelphia,  Providence  and  New  Hanover ;  and  addressing, 
in  terms  of  due  respect,  all  brethren  of  the  Evang.  Lutheran  faith  who 
may  read  this  statement,  he  humbly  entreats  them  to  extend  a  gener- 
ous sympathy  towards  their  needy  brethren  in  Pennsylvania  ;  and,  by 
kind  contributions,  to  promote  the  work  that  may  be  undertaken  in 
the  several  places  of  their  abode.  He  doubts  not  "^that  Almighty  God 
will  quicken,  in  fervent  love  and  active  co-operation,  all  persons  Avho 
are  concerned  about  the  extension  of  the  Divine  Kingdom  and  the  sal- 
vation of  the  souls  of  men,  that  He  will  richly  reward  them  in  return, 
and  grant  them,  in  like  measure,  His  attention  and  favor  in  all  their 
times  of  need. 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIEST)  BRIEF  REPORT.  77 

In  testimony  and  confirmation  of  the  authority  of  Daniel  Weisiger, 
aforesaid,  to  act  as  such  delegate,  he  has  appended  to  this  statement 
the  document  given  to  him  and  his  colleagues  by  the  elders  and  dea- 
cons of  the  Evang.  Luth.  Congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New  Han- 
over and  Providence,  and  signed  by  the  English  Governor  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania;  together  with  an  Extract  from  a  letter 
which  the  congregation  in  Philadelphia,  in  October  of  last  year,  ad- 
dressed to  Dr.  Ziegenhagen,  Royal  English  Court  Preacher  in  the 
German  Chapel  at  London ;  as  also  what  Dr.  Ziegenhagen  thereupon 
communicated  to  a  distinguished  Evang.  Lutheran  divine  in  Hannover. 
He  trusts  that  these  testimonials  will  be  the  more  confidently  accepted, 
because  that,  in  every  place,  further  evidences  of  the  truth  of  the  mat- 
ter may  be  so  easily  obtained. 

Daniel  Weisiger. 
Hildesheim,  May  3d,  1734. 


EXTRACT 

Of  a  commnnication  addressed  by  Dr.  F.  M.  Ziegenhagen,  Court  Preacher  in  the 

German  Chapel  at  London,  to  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  Hannover, 

January  28th,  1734."'^ 

It  is  alas !  too  true  that  the  Evangelical  Churches  that  are  scattered 
here  and  there  in  America,  especially  in  Virginia,  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, etc.,  are  in  a  very  deplorable  condition,  particularly  in  re- 
gard to  the  Word  of  God  and  the  Holy  Sacraments,  and  such  appoint- 
ments as  are  necessary  for  proper  instruction  in  the  Divine  Word  and 
the  right  administration  of  the  Sacraments.  (For  continuation  of  the 
Extract  see  First  Brief  Report,  sect.  6.  After  the  portion  there  pre- 
sented, the  letter  continues  as  follows:)  Our  inability  to  help  our- 
selves, in  our  deep  poverty,  may  be  seen  in  this  circumstance  also; 
after  we  had  resolved  to  send  out  our  pastor,  John  C.  Schultze,  and 
Daniel  Weisiger  and  John  D.  Schoner  along  with  him,  we  were  not 
able,  out  of  our  own  means,  to  provide  for  the  expenses  of  the  journey. 
We  were  therefore  compelled  to  borrow  the  money,  which  we  did,  from 

*  We  are  able  to  furnish  this  letter  in  full  from  the  Archives  at  Halle.  It  be- 
gins as  folloAVS :  "  Most  Keverend,  Most  Honored  Pastor,  Most  Worthy  Brother  in 
the  Lord !  For  your  friendly  communication  of  January  26th  I  return  my  sin- 
cerest  thanks.  The  information  you  have  given  me  about  the  happy  condition  of 
this  and  that  household,  and  about  divers  other  things  has  been  heartily  welcomed. 
However,  since  I  have  to  prepare  the  missionary  reports  for  Tranquebar  and  Ma- 
dras, in  time  for  the  ship  that  is  to  sail  in  a  few  days,  I  shall  turn,  at  once,  to  the 
chief  subject  of  your  letter,  which  relates  to  Daniel  Weisiger,  the  collector.  Judg- 
ing from  his  disposition  and  his  object,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  testifying  to  his 
honesty  and  integrity ;  and  I  do  not  doubt,  that  if  the  character  and  conduct  of 
his  colleague,  the  other  collector,  had  been  like  his  own,  the  collection  which  has 
been  undertaken,  would,  with  the  Divine  Favor,  have  been  more  successful  both 
here  and  in  other  places." 


78  APPENDIX   TO   THE    (FIEST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

Melchior  Schultze,  of  Holland,  who  has  a  brother  residing  here.  For 
the  interest  on  this  money  we,  the  undersigned,  are  personally  responsi- 
ble. But  we  cling  to  the  hope  that  God,  in  His  mercy,  will  not  forsake 
us,  but  will  stir  up  the  hearts  of  the  benevolent  to  hasten  to  our  help, 
that  we  perish  not.  Therefore  we  cannot  refrain  from  appealing  once 
more,  in  all  reverence,  to  your  Excellency,  to  grant  us  whatever  help 
you  can ;  to  collect  whatever  contributions  your  congregation  may  be 
pleased  to  give ;  and  then,  either  by  bill  of  exchange  or  by  the  hands 
of  some  trustworthy  friend,  transmit  the  amount  to  some  merchant  in 
Philadelphia,  etc." 

So  far,  the  letter  from  the  congregation  in  Philadelphia.  To  all 
this  the  Court  Preacher  adds  the  following:  "In  the  forgoing,  your 
Excellency  may  clearly  see  the  grounds  upon  which  Daniel  Weisiger 
rests  his  appeal  for  pecuniary  help.  The  congregation  he  re])resents, 
as  well  as  others  in  America,  is  in  very  great  need ;  this  cannot  be 
denied.  The  pressure  of  their  need  is  not  well  understood  in  other 
places ;  and  even  where  it  is  well  known  it  fails  to  excite  the  requisite 
amount  of  sympathy;  and  the  consequence  is,  that  in  their  spiritual 
destitution,  these  poor  people  are  ever  growing  worse  and  worse.  My 
desire  is,  to  entreat  you  in  most  persuasive  terms,  to  encourage  the  un- 
dertaking of  Daniel  Weisiger.  Have  compassion  upon  the  lambs  and 
sheep  of  the  flock  of  Jesus  Christ  in  America,  perishing  as  they  are ; 
and  hasten  to  their  relief,  that  they  may  be  refreshed  in  due  time. 
Although  I  have  not,  as  yet,  the  means  in  hand.  I,  myself,  will  un- 
dertake to  furnish,  for  several  congregations  in  America,  a  supply  of 
copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  Hymn  Books,  Catechisms  and  Primers." 

"  If  any  considerable  amount  should,  by  the  Favor  of  the  Lord,  be 
collected  in  your  city,  it  may  be  forwarded  to  me,  as  the  Philadelphia 
congregation  have  requested,  in  their  last  letter ;  and  I  shall  transmit 
it  to  its  proper  destination.* 


Copy  of  the  Open  Letter  of  the  Evang.  Lutheran  Congregations  at  Phila- 
delphia, New  Hanover  and  Providence,  placed  in  the  hands  of 
their  Delegates  to  Europe. 

To  each  and  all  Evangelical  Christians,  with  due  reverence,  Grace 
and  Peace! 

It  is  well  known  that  within  about  twenty  years,  many  Protestant 
families  who  had  been  persecuted  in  Germany  on  account  of  their  re- 
ligious faith,  or  otherwise  oppressed  by  Roman  Catholic  Rulers,  have 
at  great  expense,  resorted  to  this  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  which  is 
under  the  Government  of  England.  In  numbers  they  already  amount 
to  thousands.     Upon  their  arrival,  the  most  of  them,  being  poor  and 

*  "If  your  Excellency  should  be  of  opinion  that  an  extract  from  this  letter,  with 
permission  to  exhibit  it  whilst  prosecuting  his  collections,  would  be  of  service  to 
Weisiger,  be  good  enough  to  grant  him  that  privilege,  as  you  may  think  proper." 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT.  79 

destitute  of  all  means,  scattered  themselves  here  and  there  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  there  took  up  their  abodes.  In  consequence  of  this  they  con- 
tinued to  live  without  the  privileges  of  the  Church,  without  the  services 
of  a  regular  pastors,  without  the  blessings  of  the  Holy  Sacraments,  even 
as  lost  sheep,  until  at  last,  a  Merciful  Providence  was  pleased  to  send 
us  a  minister  of  the  word  in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  Henry  John  Chris- 
tian Schultze,  born  in  Scheinbach,  in  the  Markgravate  of  Anspach.* 

He  has  earnestly  endeavored,  according  to  his  ability,  by  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Word  and  the  administration  of  the  Holy  Sacraments,  to 
bring  us  out  of  the  darkness  and  ignorance  into  which  we  had  fallen 
when  we  were  living  without  the  light  and  pure  doctrine  of  the  Gospel. 
He  has  sought  to  awaken  us  as  well  as  other  adherents  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  doctrine  residing  in  the  three  places,  Philadelphia,  New 
Hanover  and  Providence ;  and,  by  organizing  three  congregations,  to 
renew  and  confirm  our  union  in  our  most  holy  faith. 

It  is  clearly  and  absolutely  necessary  that  churches  and  school- 
houses  should  be  erected  for  the  regular  observance  of  Divine  worship, 
for  the  maintenance  of  good  order  and  for  the  Christian  training  of  the 
young;  as  also,  that  the  reasonable  support  of  the  requisite  pastors  and 
teachers  should  be  provided  for.  We  however,  ourselves,  are  not  able 
to  accomplish  this  work  by  our  own  means.  We  live  in  a  country 
where  money  is  scarce,  and  wdiere  every  man  has  enough^  to  do  to  sup- 
port himself,  under  Divine  assistance,  by  the  labor  of  his  hands.  If 
this  work,  which  is  so  good  in  itself  and  so  well  calculated  to  promote 
the  Glory  of  God  and  the  true  Religion  of  Christ,  should  be  neglected, 
then  would  all  our  fond  hopes  be  blasted,  and  our  children  and  de- 
scendants w^ould  finally  slide  back  into  the  condition  of  the  heathen. 

Accordingly  we,  officers  of  the  three  congregations  named  above, 
hereby  send  our  present  pastor  the  Rev.  John  Christian  Schultze  and, 
in  company  with  him,  Daniel  Weisiger  and  John  D.  Schoner,  to  our 
brethren  in  the  faith  in  England,  Holland  and  Germany,  in  order  that 
he  may,  by  his  oral  statement,  explain  our  necessities  and  our  interests 
more  fully,  and  entreat  our  friends,  by  the  love  of  Christ,  to  assist  us 
by  their  benevolent  contributions,  in  the  erection  of  the  churches  and 
school  houses  so  indispensable  in  this  country.  We  have,  therefore, 
furnished  him  with  a  collection-book,  which  we  have  ourselves  en- 
dorsed, for  the  purpose  of  having  the  names  of  our  benefactors  written 
therein,  together  with  the  sums  they  may  severally  contribute.  We 
have  also  requested  His  Excellency,  our  Governor,  to  attest  and  con- 
firm this  our  petition  by  affixing  the  seal  of  the  Province. 

We  doubt  not  that  all  persons,  whatever  be  their  rank  or  station  in 
life,  w^hom  this  petition  may  reach  and  who  may  be  interested  in  the 
extension  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  in  these  remote  regions  will  allow 


*  He  is  at  this  time  in  Germany,  and  being  naturally  of  feeble  eyesight,  is 
now  almost  entirely  blind,  so  that  he  will  not  be  able  to  return. 


80  APPENDIX   TO    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

their  faith  to  work  by  love,  and  that  each  one  will,  according  to  his 
ability,  contribute  with  a  cheerful  heart,  to  this  collection,  for  the 
Glory  of  God  and  the  propagation  of  the  pure  Evangelical  doctrine, 
seeing  that  upon  this  depends  the  salvation  of  so  many  souls  who,  en 
account  of  the  lack  of  the  means  of  grace,  wander  off  to  the  sects  of 
which  there  are  so  many  in  the  land,  or,  cut  off  from  the  privileges  of 
public  worship,  lead  lives  of  perfect  indifference. 

Not  only  we,  but  our  descendants  also  will,  with  all  sincerity  and 
gratitude,  acknowledge  the  value  of  these  benefactions ;  and  we  shall 
continue  without  fail,  to  call  upon  God  the  Giver  of  every  good  gift  to 
reward  each  and  all  of  our  benefactors  richly  with  all  kinds  of  spiritual 
blessings  in  heavenly  places. 

Commending  ourselves  to  your  sympathy,  and  offering  all  due  re- 
spect to  our  noble  and  generous  benefactors  of  whatever  rank,  we 
remain  your  most  humble  servants,  the  wardens  and  elders  of  the 
three  congregation  named  above. 

John  Backer,  George  Hollebach, 

John  G.  Herger,  John  N.  Crossmann, 

Adam  Herrmann,  Jacob  Schrack. 

Patricius  Gordon,  Armiger,  Provincice  Pensylvanice  in  America  Proe- 
fectus,  omnibus  ad  quos  hce  pervenerint,  salutem!  Hasce  literas  in  hue 
provmcia  Oermanice  conscriptas  mihi  ostensas  fuisse  a  D.  Johanne 
Christiano  Schultz,  Ministro  Evangelico,  cvjus  curce,  nee  non  Johannis 
Danielis  Schbner  et  Danielis  Weisiger,  itineris  comitum,  sunt  commissce, 
rogatus  testor,  Sigillo  Provinciali  minore  affixo.  Daham  Philadelphice 
primo  die  Maji  Anno  Dom.  millesimo  septingentesimo  trigesimo  tertio. 

[L.S.] 

Ex  mandatis  Honorahilis,  P.  Gordon. 

Prcefecti  proedicti,  I^og*  Charles,  Secretarius. 

The  Lord  bless  what  is  here  proposed !  that  it  may  find  favor  at  the 
hands  of  all  who  read  our  statement,  so  that  in  America  also,  by  the 
preaching  of  the  Word  of  God,  the  way  of  life  may  be  made  plain  to 
those  who  confess  the  Christian  faith ;  and  also,  by  that  Grace  which 
extends  towards  all  men,  be  opened  up  to  the  heathen  tribes  who  oc- 
cupy the  land.  May  He,  the  Good  Shepherd,  who  is  not  willing  that 
any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  repent  and  be  converted  and  live, 
graciously  watch  over  his  poor  forsaken  sheep  whether  among  Christ- 
ians or  heathen,  and  all  for  His  love  and  mercy's  sake.     Hallelujah ! 


II. 

For  as  much  as  the  delegate  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congrega- 
tions at  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Providence  in  Pennsylvania, 
Mr.  Daniel  Weisiger  has  represented  to  us  the  condition  of  the  said 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT.  81 

congregations,  adding  that  they  propose  to  erect  churches  and  school 
houses  such  as  are  demanded  in  the  several  localities;  as  also,  that 
they  ardently  hope  to  obtain  from  Germany  some  true  and  faithful 
pastors  and  preachers  of  the  Evangelical  faith,  and  competent  teachers 
for  their  schools,  therefore  we,  in  tnis  city,  are  ready  and  willing,  with 
the  Divine  help,  to  cooperate  in  this  work  according  to  our  ability, 
and  to  take  pains  that  these  congregations  may  be  supplied  with  one 
or  more  well  qualified  pastors  and  instructors  as  far  as  their  wishes  can 
be  met  in  this  place.  Our  desire  is  to  secure  such  men  as  will  heartily 
do  their  utmost,  with  all  diligence  and  fidelity,  in  laboring  for  the 
spiritual  good  and  the  salvation  of  the  churches  and  the  youth  com- 
mitted to  their  charge. 

In  this  matter  the  following  conditions  must  be  maintained : 

1.  Those  persons  who  may  be  appointed  as  regular  pastors  and 
preachers  must  be  ordained  before  leaving  this  country;  and  as  a 
regular  call  to  the  work  will  be  required,  we  shall  expect  that  a  pleni- 
potentiary document  to  that  efiect,  according  to  a  certain  form  which 
we  have  arranged,  will  be  prepared  and  signed  by  all  the  elders  of  the 
congregations  concerned,  and  then  transmitted  to  us;  and  that  this 
document  shall  be  so  framed  as  that  it  may  be  used  for  the  same  pur- 
pose whenever  occasion  may  require. 

2.  It  is  enjoined  upon  the  said  elders  and  Christian  congregations  at 
Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Providence,  to  hold  their  pastors  and 
teachers  who  have  been  regularly  called,  very  highly  in  love  and 
honor ;  to  respect  them  and  follow  their  advice  in  all  reasonable  things, 
and  in  what  may  be  calculated  to  promote  the  Kingdom  of  God  and 
secure  the  salvation  of  souls ;  not  to  make  any  unreasonable  demands 
upon  them,  or  such  as  may  be  in  conflict  with  the  Word  of  God,  with 
the  doctrine. of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  or  with  their  own 
consciences ;  but  much  rather,  to  show  all  earnestness,  so  that,  by  the 
advice  and  cooperation  of  their  pastors,  every  thing  shall  be  kept  in 
good  working  order  both  in  the  churches  and  the  schools,  with  the 
hope  that  the  end  contemplated,  that  is,  the  building  up  of  the  con- 
gregations for  the  benefit  of  the  old  and  the  young,  may  be  reached. 

'6.  It  is  enjoined,  with  equal  earnestness,  upon  the  said  elders  and 
congregations  to  give  good  heed  to  furnish  the  necessary  means  of 
subsistence  to  the  pastors  and  teachers  who  may  be  sent  to  them,  to 
declare  beforehand,  the  amount  of  the  yearly  salary,  and  to  pay  it  in 
full,  according  to  promise,  so  that  the  remuneration  of  those  who  serve 
them  in  the  churches  and  schools  may  not  be  diminished,  as  has  been 
the  case  in  other  places,  by  including  contributions  of  tobacco  or  other 
articles  of  produce,  by  which  these  persons  might  be  led  to  involve 
themselves  in  business  operations  not  suited  to  their  station ;  but  that 
it  be  always  paid  in  money,  honestly  and  without  delay,  and  that  all 
the  necessary  arrangements  be  made  to  that  efiect. 

A  declaration  to  the  foregoing  efiect  subscribed  also  by  the  aforesaid 
6 


82  APPENDIX  TO  THE  (FIEST)  BRIEF  EEPORT. 

officers  of  the  congregations  is  expected  by  us ;  and  upon  our  receiving 
such  declaration  we  shall  not  fail  to  help  them  in  their  good  work,  by 
the  Grace  of  God,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power.  To  all  which  may  the 
Lord  graciously  add  His  blessing,  sending  prosperity  from  above,  and 
directing  all  for  the  Glory  of  His  Name  and  the  extension  of  His 
Kingdom  for  the  sake  of  Christ  our  Lord. 

Given  at  Halle,  May  31,  1734. 


FORMULA  OF  PLENIPOTENTIARY  DOCUMENT. 

Which  the  Elders  and  Wardens  of  the  Pennsylvania  congregations  were  asked  to 
adopt  and  to  subscribe. 

We  the  undersigned,  Wardens  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congre- 
gations in  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Providence,  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, hereby  announce  and  declare,  that,  whereas  we  have,  through  our 
delegate  Mr.  Daniel  Weisiger,  petitioned  the  regular  Professor  of 
Theology  of  the  Royal  Prussian  University  of  Halle  in  Saxony,  Dr. 
Gotthilf  August  Francke  to  inquire  on  our  behalf,  and  to  secure  for  us 
competent  and  worthy  teachers  and  ministers  of  the  Gospel  as  also 
school-masters,  to  serve  as  pastors  and  instructors  in  these  our  congre- 
gations: therefore,  we  will  not  only  pay  into  the  hands  of  the  said 
Prof.  Dr.  Francke  the  travelling  expenses  arising  in  each  individual 
case,  but  will  also  recognize  and  receive  as  our  teachers,  pastors  and 
instructors  whomsoever  the  said  Dr.  Francke  may  engage  for  such 
service,  provide  them  with  the  necessary  means  of  subsistence  and  hold 
them  highly  in  love  and  honor.  Also,  in  case  they  should  hereafter, 
for  Aveighty  reasons,  desire  to  return  to  Germany,  w^e  w  ill  furnish  them 
with  the  money  necessary  for  the  journey ;  and  treat  them  in  all  re- 
spects in  an  equitable  manner,  upon  Christian  principles  and  in 
accordance  with  the  upright,  established  order  of  our  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Faith. 

For  this  purpose,  we  hereby  invest  the  aforesaid  Prof.  Dr.  Francke, 
in  the  name  of  the  said  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations  at  Phila- 
delphia, New  Hanover  and  Providence,  with  full  power  and  authority 
to  extend  in  our  behalf,  under  the  aforesaid  conditions  and  couched  in 
the  usual  terms,  a  regular  call  to  such  persons  as,  in  accordance  with 
our  petition,  he  may  send  to  us  to  serve  as  pastors,  ministers  of  the 
Gospel  and  teachers  in  our  congregations ;  and,  in  a  word,  to  do  and 
to  transact  every  thing,  in  such  cases,  which  we  would,  otherwise,  have 
to  do  and  to  transact  ourselves.  All  w^hich,  being  done  by  Dr.  Francke, 
shall  be  approved  by  us. 

In  testimony  and  confirmation  of  w^hich  we  have  had  this  power-of- 
attorney  prepared,  and  sign  it  with  our  hands  and  affix  our  several 
seals.     Done  at  etc.,  etc. 


APPENDIX   TO   THE    (FIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT.  83 

III. 

There  is  an  original  letter  of  Daniel  Weisiger  dated  July  12th,  1834, 
Rotterdam,  and  addressed  to  the  Hon.  Councellor  Cellarius  at  Halle, 
in  which  he  reports  concerning  the  progress  of  his  collections  at  the 
Eoyal  Court  of  Denmark,  and  then  adds  as  follows :  "  This  year,  only 
two  vessels  have  sailed  from  Rotterdam,  with  passengers,  for  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  number  of  passengers,  with  the  Schwenkfelders,  amounted 
to  340 ;  there  being  52  Evangelical  families  among  them.  I  know  not 
whether  you  have  been  informed  that  Mr.  Spangenberg  and  Count 
Zinzendorf  have  been  sending  a  good  many  letters  to  persons  at  the 
Royal  Court  in  London,  stating  that  it  is  their  purpose  to  go  to  Geor- 
gia next  year,  accompanied  by  a  considerable  number  of  persons." 


IV. 

An  original  letter  of  the  same,  dated  Rotterdam,  Aug.  21st,  1734, 
addressed  to  G.  A.  Francke,  reports  that  the  mere  copy  of  his  original 
license  was  not  sufficient  to  secure  success  in  his  collections  in  Holland, 
and  that  the  Burgomaster  van  der  Hiiffe  had  advised  him — "that  I 
should  go  to  London  and  get  another  license  with  the  Royal  Seal  at- 
tached. So  I  can  accomplish  nothing  in  Holland,  at  present ;  and  ex- 
pect to  be  in  London  next  Wednesday,  confidently  hoping  that  Pastor 
Ziegenhagen  will  help  me  to  obtain  a  license  from  the  king.  Besides, 
as  I  am  in  expectation  of  the  arrival  of  the  regular  call  from  Philadel- 
phia, and  hope  to  take  the  pastors  along  with  me  upon  my  return  to 
America,  it  is  very  probable  that  I  shall  go  back  to  Holland  towards 
spring." 

V. 

Original  letter  of  Weisiger  to  Cellarius,  London,  Sept.  3d,  1734, 
"  The  congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  in  order  to  begin  the  building  of 
their  churches,  borrowed,  in  addition  to  the  money  contributed  by 
themselves,  six  hundred  dollars  from  Mr.  Melchior  Scholtz,  merchant 
in  Harlem,  which  money  I  have  to  pay  back  out  of  the  collections 
which  I  obtain  here.  Now,  as  I  have  not  yet  undertaken  to  collect  in 
Holland ;  and  as  Pastor  Ziegenhagen  thinks  that  I  will  hardly  be  able 
to  return  to  Holland,  I  therefore  have  to  request  you  to  transmit  the 
monies  of  the  collections  that  may  be  in  your  hands  to  the  merchant 
aforesaid.  All  the  money  should  be  deposited  with  him ;  both  because 
he  will  be  able  to  forward  it  safely  to  Philadelphia,  and  because  it  will 
be  of  great  advantage  to  the  congregations. 

As  to  the  preacher  Schultz,  I  have  just  had  a  letter  from  him  which, 
with  the  other  letters,  I  have  placed  in  the  hands  of  Pastor  Ziegenha- 
gen.    Schultz  wants  to  be  released  from  the  work  of  collecting;  in- 


84  APPENDIX   TO    THE    (fIESt)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

deed  he  even  wishes  that  he  were  dead ;  for  he  cannot  succeed  in  his 
crooked  purposes.  He  is  in  Bremen  at  present;  but  soon  expects  to 
go  to  Holland.  Accordingly,  at  the  request  of  the  congregations  and 
after  conferring  with  Pastor  Ziegenhagen,  I  have  authorized  Mr.  Mel- 
chior  Scholtz  to  take  possession  of  his  license  and  his  collection  book. 
I  have  also  wTitten  to  Schultz  himself  and  informed  him  of  the  wishes 
of  the  congregations. 

The  Lord  who  wisely  overrules  all  things  has,  even  in  these  circum- 
stances, revealed  the  traces  of  His  wonderful  Providence.  He  has  en- 
abled us  to  see  what  mischief  an  ungodly  teacher  can  work,  in  order 
that  we  may  exercise  the  greater  carefulness  to  send  none  but  faithful 
laborers  into  His  vineyard.  The  calls  for  the  pastors  are  awaited  with 
the  arrival  of  the  next  ships." 


VI. 

Letter  of  Weisiger  to  Prof  G.  A.  Francke,  dated  London,  Sept.  23d, 
1734.  "  It  seems  that  a  report  has  reached  your  Reverence  to  the  effect 
that  I  had  fallen  in  with  Mr.  Spangenberg.  To  this  I  reply,  with  the 
full  assurance  of  truth,  that  I  have  not  been  leagued  in  either  with  Mr. 
Spangenberg  or  with  any  body  else;  but  I  thank  God  that  He  has 
made  known  to  me  a  place  and  a  way  where  faithful  pastors  and 
teachers  may  be  found.  Indeed,  I  have  often  prayed,  with  tears,  that 
God  Avould  awaken  the  hearts  of  men  to  lake  an  interest  in  the  condi- 
tion of  our  poor  people  in  Pennsylvania,  so  that  they  would  no  longer 
accept  unprincipled  men  to  be' their  preachers,  as  they  have  done 
hitherto.  And  as  your  Reverence  and  Pastor  Ziegenhagen,  out  of  love 
to  God  and  His  Word,  have  engaged  to  assist  us  in  this  matter,  it 
would  be  the  height  of  ingratitude  if  I  were  to  resort  to  other  expedi- 
ents, and  specially  since  the  Hon.  Councellor  Cellarius  has  so  minutely 
informed  me  of  the  circumstances  concerning  Mr.  Spangenberg.  It 
had  already  been  reported,  before  I  went  to  Halle,  that  Spangenberg 
intended  to  go  to  Pennsylvania ;  and,  for  that  reason,  I  had  written  to 
Halle,  and  stated  what  was  most  important  to  be  known.  I  trust, 
therefore,  that  your  Reverence  will  not  countenance  any  suspicion. 
There  is  no  truth  in  the  report. 

I  am  not,  as  yet,  certain  about  the  time  of  my  setting  off  to  return  to 
Pennsylvania.  Prior  to  my  departure  I  shall  write  to  your  Reverence 
again,  as  also  to  all  our  good  friends.  In  the  meantime,  offering  my 
respectful  salutations  to  your  family,  I  commend  your  Reverence  and 
them  to  the  Divine  protection,  and  shall  ever  remain  your  Reverence's 
most  devoted  friend, 

'Daniel  Weisiger." 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT.  85 

VII. 

G.  A.  Francke  to  Mr.  Weisiger  in  Philadelphia,  Halle,  March  11th, 
1735.  In  Halle  400  Thaler  were  collected,  of  which  the  sum  of  72 
Thaler,  9  Groschen,  3  Pfennige,  were  paid  out  by  direction  of  Weisiger, 
and  300  Thaler  were  to  be  forwarded  to  Ziegenhagen.  "As  to  the 
rest,  my  dear  Sir,  I  trust  that,  by  the  Divine  Favor,  you  landed  safely, 
with  the  Salzburgers  in  Georgia;  and  have  reached  your  own  home 
again  in  good  health.  I  hope  that  your  friends  will  improve  the  op- 
portunity of  becoming  better  acquainted  with  the  Pastors  Bolzius  and 
Gronau.  As  to  the  condition  of  your  congregations,  and  their  desire 
to  be  supplied  with  worthy  and  faithful  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  I  wait 
for  more  precise  information.  However,  I  cannot  conceal  the  fact  that 
some  time  ago  several  things  were  asserted  that  almost  puzzled  me.  It 
has  been  reported  that  among  your  people  there  is  but  little  respect 
shown  to  worthy  ministers  of  the  Gospel ;  that  they  promise  everything 
good  but  then  take  no  interest  in  their  pastors,  and  especially  when 
they  are  faithful  in  their  Avork  and  the  preaching  of  the  Word ;  that 
they  allow  them  to  be  oppressed  with  anxiety  and  want ;  and  that,  in 
this  extremity,  they  obtain  no  relief  from  the  Government.  Noav,  I 
am  not  willing  to  believe  that  this  is  true  of  all,  and  I  hope  better 
things  of  the  congregations  in  which  your  are  interested.  But  as  to 
my  supplying  you  with  competent  teachers,  I  must  first  have  the  confi- 
dent assurance  that  I  am  not  leading  them  into  trying  straits,  but  that 
they  will  be  provided  for  in  a  becoming  manner,  and  especially,  that 
their  salaries  shall  not  depend  simply  upon  the  arbitrary  notions  of  the 
people.  Whatever  is  undertaken  in  this  matter  must  be  established 
upon  a  firm  and  sure  foundation,  and  a  minute  report  of  the  whole 
arrangement  must  be  transmitted  to  me. 

I  have  not  heard  a  word  about  Pastor  Schultz  for  some  time,  and  I 
know  not  what  has  become  of  him.  Nothwithstanding  all  my  effc)rts  I 
have  not  yet  learned  whether  there  is  any  encouragement  to  hope  for  a 
collection  in  Denmark,  towards  the  building  of  your  churches  and 
school-houses.  I  will,  however,  make  further  inquiry,  and  if  anything 
can  be  done  I  will  inform  you.  I  commit  the  whole  business  to  the 
Divine  Favor,  and  remain,  my  dear  Sir,  both  in  prayer  and  ready  co- 
operations, yours,  G.  A.  Francke. 

Halle,  March  11th,  1735." 


VIII. 

The  Letter  of  the  Three  Congregations. 

Philadelphia,  Feb.  28th,  1735. 
Most  Worthy,  Most  Learned,  Most  Honored  Professor : 

Your  own  most  acceptable  communication  to  us,  and  Mr.  Weisiger's 


SQ  APPENDIX  TO  THE  (FIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT. 

verbal  statements,  have  convinced  us  of  the  great  pains  and  anxiety 
"svith  which  your  Keverence  has  prosecuted,  and  still  proposes  to  prose- 
cute the  work,  both  of  collecting  benevolent  contributions  in  our  aid 
and  of  sending  us  an  ordained  pastor  for  our  congregations.  For  this, 
your  fatherly  interest  on  our  behalf,  we  offer  our  most  humble  thanks, 
and  beg  you  to  continue  to  extend  to  our  congregations  your  co-opera- 
tion in  promoting  the  Glory  of  God.  Mr.  AVeisiger,  having  sailed 
from  England  to  Georgia  in  company  with  certain  Salzburg  emigrants, 
has  now  come  back  to  us.  We  learn  from  his  statements  as  well  as 
from  certain  written  documents,  that  divers  unjust  reports  about  our 
Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations  are  circulated  both  in  Germany 
and  in  England.  But  under  the  Grace  of  God  we  find  comfort  in  our 
own  innocence.  We  know  very  well  that  the  great  enemy,  the  devil, 
is  always  striving,  through  the  operations  of  his  lying  progeny,  to  dis- 
turb the  Kingdom  of  God,  and  to  hinder  the  growth  of  Christianity. 
We  have  begged  Pastor  Ziegenhagen,  Court  Chaplain,  to  use  his  influ- 
ence with  the  Royal  Society,  so  that  Pastor  Bolzius  may  be  authorized 
to  investigate  our  condition,  which  is,  in  fact,  so  lamentable  that  any 
description  of  it  must  fall  far  short  of  the  reality.  People  of  a  worldly 
spirit  cannot  understand  the  miseries  that  oppress  our  religious  life  in 
consequence  of  the  lack  of  churches  and  schools.  We,  however,  have 
to  make  the  sad  experience  that,  for  this  very  reason,  our  children  are 
betrayed  into  all  kinds  of  crooked  ways,  and  that  those  who,  at  first, 
encouraged  us  to  hope  that  they  would  help  us  in  advancing  the  inter- 
ests of  true  religion,  afterwards  turned  out  to  be  its  destroyers. 

Mr.  Siron,  who  is  not  unknown  to  you,  is  one  example  of  such  char- 
acters. When  this  man  first  came  among  us,  the  prospect  of  his  use- 
fulness in  many  of  our  congregations  was  quite  promising;  for  he 
was  known  in  Halle  and  also  in  other  parts.  But  in  a  short  time 
he  broke  off  from  the  congregation  altogether ;  and  now  seeks  to  pass 
himself  off  as  one  inspired.  He  cries  out  against  all  the  exercises  of 
public  worship  without  exception ;  says  that  it  is  better  to  build  sta- 
bles than  to  erect  churches ;  and  strives,  by  his  slanders  and  his  lying 
letters,  to  make  us  odious  everywhere. 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  however,  we  have  the  firmest  confidence  in 
God,  that  when  the  proper  time  comes  He  will  rescue  and  maintain 
His  own  Honor,  despite  all  obstacles.  Until  this  time,  in  connection 
with  the  Reformed  congregation,  we  continue  to  hold  our  public  wor- 
ship on  alternate  Sundays,  in  a  house  that  is  not  otherwise  occupied. 
The  goodness  of  the  Lord  has  lately  brought  a  deserving  man  hither, 
John  Alb.  Langerfeldt,  born  in  Halberstadt,  who  was  a  student  at 
Halle  some  eight  years  ago,  and  afterwards  served  as  private  teacher 
in  a  family  of  noble  rank ;  finally,  coming  to  this  country  to  escape 
the  military  lexj.  As  there  was  no  one  at  all  to  preach  the  Gospel 
amongst  us,  we  asked  Mr.  Langerfeldt  to  undertake  the  work.  He 
excused  himself  on  the  plea,  that  although  he  had  studied  theology  as 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT.  87 

well  as  law,  yet  he  had  never  been  inclined  to  enter  the  clerical  office ; 
and  besides  this,  he  had  not  been  ordained.  But  as  necessity  knows  no 
law  and  as  he  saw  the  pressure  of  our  need,  he  added,  that  as  all  men 
are  solemnly  bound  to  employ  their  talents  for  the  Glory  of  God  and 
the  benefit  of  their  neighbor,  he  would  comply  with  our  request,  by  the 
help  of  God ;  and  conduct  our  public  worship,  once  in  two  weeks,  un- 
til we  should  secure  a  regular  pastor.  In  this  we  hope  to  succeed,  by 
the  assistance  of  Dr.  Ziegenhagen,  to  whom  we  have  given  full  author- 
ity to  provide  for  us  an  ordained  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

In  conclusion,  we  thank  your  Reverence  for  the  books  you  have  so 
kindly  sent  us.  In  our  spiritual  hunger  and  thirst  they  have  been  a 
great  refreshment  for  us.  We  humbly  beg  that  your  tender  sympathy 
and  your  activity  in  promoting  our  spiritual  welfare  may  be  continued : 
and  may  our  gracious  God  not  only  bless  but  also  richly  reward  your 
faithful" labors  in  His  Name ! 

With  profoundest  sentiments  of  sincere  respect  we  remain  your  Rev- 
erence's most  humble  servants,  the  present  Wardens  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  congregations  at  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Providence 
in  Pennsylvania. 

John  F.  Hartmann,  Thomas  Meyer, 

Henry  Miller,  Albrecht  Haasse, 

Christian  Sackreuder,  Jan  George. 

A  Monsieur  Franke, 
Professeur  en  Theologie  et  Ministre  de  la  Parole  de  Dieu  a  Halle. 


IX. 

Under  date  of  July  6th,  1735,  G.  A.  Francke  replied  to  the  forego- 
ing letter  of  the  wardens ;  and  having  stated  that  he  would  rejoice  if 
Mr.  Bolzius  should  visit  them  and  make  the  investigation  they  speak 
about ;  because,  in  the  meantime,  sad  accounts  had  been  received  from 
America,  he  then  continues :  "  I  deeply  regret  that  Mr.  Siron  has  fallen 
into  such  extravagant  notions — yet  in  view  of  the  fact,  that  in  his  very 
temperament  he  is  rash  and  inconsiderate,  it  is  not  much  to  be  won- 
dered at.  Possibly,  Pastor  Bolzius  may  succeed  in  bringing  him  back 
to  the  right  way ;  for  in  his  earlier  years  he  had  made  a  good  begin- 
ning. As  to  the  rest  Dr.  Ziegenhagen  will  do  his  best,  with  the  Divine 
Help,  to  supply  you  with  an  ordained  pastor.  Although  no  collection 
can  be  undertaken  in  this  country  without  the  royal  permission,  yet  we 
have  received  from  several  benevolent  friends,  as  voluntary  offerings 
for  the  building  of  churches  and  schoolhouses,  the  sum  of  425  Thaler, 
of  which  72  Thaler,  9  Groschen,  3  Pfennige  have  been  paid  out  here,  by 
order  of  Mr.  Weisiger.  About  St.  Michael's  day  I  propose  to  send  the 
balance,  352  Th.,  14  Gr.,  9  Pf ,  by  Bill  of  Exchange  to  Dr.  Ziegenha- 


88  APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT. 

gen.  Efforts  have  been  made  to  take  a  collection  for  the  same  pur- 
poses in  Denmark ;  but,  so  far,  Avithout  success.  Still,  we  cherish  the 
hope  that  some  good  friends  of  the  cause  in  that  country  will  freely 
forward  their  own  contributions. 

It  appears  also  that  the  preacher  Schultz  is  still  running  up  and 
dow^n  Germany,  and  that  contributions  for  the  building  of  your  churches 
have,  here  and  there,  been  placed  in  his  hands ;  in  Cleve  he  is  said  to 
have  received  50  Thalers.  AVhether  he  transmits  any  of  these  funds 
to  the  contemplated  object  I  am  not  able  to  say ;  but  I  have  a  suspi- 
cion that  he  keeps  it  for  his  own  uses.  This  I  cannot  help ;  since  he  is 
constantly  passing  along  from  place  to  place,  so  that  I  am  not  able  to 
find  him.  I  appeal  to  you,  my  dear  sirs,  to  do  what  you  can  so  as  to 
arrest  this  mischief 

P.  S. — I  am  just  now  informed  that  Pastor  Mayer,  of  this  city  has 
received  200  Thalers,  additional,  given  towards  the  building  of  your 
churches  and  school-houses.  This  money  shall  be  forwarded  at  once. 
And  I  have  yet  to  add,  that  a  further  contribution  of  100  Thalers  has 
been  received  from  Moscow,  and  nearly  as  much  from  Silesia. 


G.  A.  Francke  to  Ziegenhagen,  "I  cannot  withhold  from  your 
Keverence  the  statement,  that  I  have  lately  seen  a  letter  dated  Ger- 
mantown,  Pennsylvania,  June  loth,  of  the  present  year,  which  a  man 
named  John  Christopher  Saner,  whom  your  Keverence  may  be  ac- 
quainted with,  addressed  to  a  person  in  this  city,  in  which  letter  the 
following  extraordinary  statements  are  made.  That  the  well-known 
preacher,  Schultz,  who,  in  company  with  several  persons,  had  pre- 
viously gone  from  Anspach  to  West  India,*  had  returned  to  Germany 
last  year  in  company  with  Daniel  Schoner  and  Daniel  Weisiger,  and 
was  collecting  money  in  England  and  in  this  country,  for  the  building 
of  churches  and  school-houses  at  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and 
Providence ;  but  that  he  was  making  this  collection  only  so  as  to  enable 
him  to  make  a  display  of  his  wealth  and  of  his  own  importance  upon 
his  going  back  to  West  India ;  and  further,  that  he  had  secured  the 
Governor's  license  to  make  the  collection,  by  bribing  a  lawyer  named 
Ludwig  Mathes,  who  is  not  unknown  in  these  parts.  In  this  letter 
also,  even  Mr.  Weisiger  is  not  very  highly  complimented ;  and  it  is  said, 
that  prior  to  his  departure  he  had  to  pay  600  Gulden  to  Melchior 
Scholtz,  merchant  in  Harlem,  which  the  latter  had  advanced  to  him 
on  account  of  freight  and  traveling  expenses. 

According  to  this  report,  the  collection  undertaken  by  preacher 
Schultz  and  his  colleagues  does  not  seem  to  be  altogether  square ;  and 

*  By  West  India  was  generally  meant,  at  that  time,  the  whole  eastern  coast  of 
North  America,  as  far  as  New  England  and  Canada. 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRSt)  BRIEF  REPORT.  89 

the  letter  aforesaid  inspires  but  a  faint  hope  that  the  money  collected 
will  ever  reach  the  objects  for  which  it  has  been  given,  etc.  Weisiger 
took  with  him,  from  this  place  and  from  other  quarters,  a  goodly  store 
of  bibles  and  other  devotional  books,  and  secured  more  to  be  sent  off 
after  him.  Whether  he  will  give  account  of  this  and  of  his  other  col- 
lections, to  the  congregation  at  Philadelphia,  I  am  not  able  to  say ;  but 
this  surprises  me,  that  since  his  return  to  West  India  he  has  never 
written  me  a  word,  though  he  promised  most  solemnly  so  to  do. 

Everywhere  the  condition  of  the  Evangelical  congregations  in  Penn- 
sylvania seems  to  be  discouraging ;  and  although  people  of  excellent 
character  may  emigrate  thither,  still  there  is  very  faint  hope  that  even 
they  will  be  able  to  effect  any  lasting  good.  It  appears  also  that  seri- 
ous difficulties  lie  in  the  way  of  securing  their  temporal  support.  ^  Sauer 
himself  asserts,  that  the  poor  are  not  able  and  the  rich  not  willing  to 
give  anything ;  and  that  if  a  man  preaches  the  truth,  that  puts  an  end 
to  his  salary.  As  to  the  Government,  that  takes  no  interest  whatever 
in  the  whole  business. 

The  aforesaid  hjauer  requests,  in  his  letter,  that  certain  manuscripts 
may  be  purchased  here,  and  sent  to  him  to  be  printed  by  him  in 
America ;  he  proposes  also  to  return  the  amount  of  cost,  placing  it  in 
the  hands  of  your  Reverence.  However,  as  we  have  other  things  to 
attend  to  here,  we  cannot  comply  with  his  request ;  and  besides,  I  have 
my  doubts  whether  any  special  good  can  be  accomplished  by  a  print- 
ing establishment  in  West  India. 


XI. 

Extract  of  a  letter  written  by  Dr.  Ziegenhagen,  Court  Chaplain, 
London,  Oct.  17th,  1735. 

"  It  has  been  a  great  grief  to  me  to  hear  what  has  been  said  con- 
cerning Mr.  Weisiger.  I  had  already  been  puzzled  about  him  upon 
his  coming  here  on  his  return  from  Germany ;  not  because  I  thought 
the  whole  collection  a  fraud,  but  because  he  used  the  money  which  he 
had  collected,  in  buying  so  many  things  for  himself 

After  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  the  Elders  of  the  congregations 
at  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Providence,  Avrote  to  me  and  ex- 
pressed their  joy  upon  learning  from  Mr.  Weisiger,  that  a  pastor  would 
soon  be  sent  to  labor  among  them.  They  added  further,  that  as  they 
are  not  able  to  pay  the  salary  of  a  pastor,  they  humbly  beg  that  the 
Society  established  here  may  undertake  to  ensure  his  support  for  some 
years.  This  extraordinary  demand  astonished  me  in  the  highest  de- 
gree; and  I  wrote  to  "them  in  April,  as  also  in  June,  very  plainly,  stat- 
ing, that  if  they  would  not  come  together  and  send  out  to  us  a  regular 
call  for  a  pastor,  distinctlv  specifying  also  the  precise  amount  of  salary 
they  Avould  give  him,  all  their  writing  and  begging  for  a  pastor  would 


90  APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT. 

amount  to  nothing,  At  the  same  time  I  notified  them,  that  the  con- 
tributors in  Germany  and  here,  desired  and  expected  from  the  war- 
dens of  the  three  congregations,  a  written  report  setting  forth  the  re- 
sult of  their  examination  of  the  collection  accounts  of  Mr.  Weisig^r; 
also,  of  the  description  and  number  of  the  volumes  he  had  handed  over 
for  the  uses  of  the  congregation,  and  of  the  manner  in  which  they  Avere 
distributed.  I  also  stated  that  as  the  impression  had  been,  that  Mr. 
Weisiger  disposed  of  the  medicines  and  books  that  were  put  in  his 
charge,  only  according  to  his  own  good  pleasure,  I  strongly  disapproved 
of  such  action ;  and  in  a  word,  that  so  long  as  they  continued  to  be  di- 
vided amongst  themselves,  as  to  my  great  distress  I  hear  they  are,  one 
party  ever  opposing  the  other,  the  funds  that  have  been  placed  in  our 
hands  since  Mr.  Weisiger's  departure,  shall,  in  no  wise,  be  forwarded 
to  them,  for  in  the  midst  of  such  contentions  these  moneys  could  do 
them  no  good,  and  might  even  be  perverted  to  mischievous  purposes. 

From  the  foregoing,  your  Reverence  may  infer  that  I  have,  for  a 
considerable  time  already,  been  aware  of  the  deplorable  condition  of 
the  said  congregations,  and  also  of  the  reprehensible  conduct  of  Mr. 
Weisiger ;  and,  that  I  have  been  striving,  though  in  a  quiet  way,  to 
correct  the  evils  on  both  sides,  as  far  as  possible. 

According  to  all  accounts  that  I  have  had,  the  state  of  affairs,  as 
far  as  Christianity  and  spiritual  interest  are  involved,  must  be,  in  the 
highest  degree,  deplorable;  and  our  most  earnest  prayers  should  be, 
that  God,  in  His  mercy,  would  so  direct  matters  that  they  may  be 
promptly  supplied  with  a  faithful  pastor. 


XII. 

Extract  of  a  letter  written  by  Pastor  John  Henry  Schmidt,  dated 
Vseels,  near  Aachen,  April  16th,  1735. 

At  Easter,  an  Evangelical  preacher  from  Philadelphia,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, called  upon  me.  He  had  been  sent  hither  for  the  purpose  of 
collecting  money  in  England,  Holland  and  Germany,  for  building 
churches  and  school-houses,  and  for  sustaining  the  pastors  and  teach- 
ers. He  was  born  in  Anspach.  His  name  is  John  Christian  Schultz. 
He  was  educated  at  Strassburg.  He  has  two  colleagues  in  Pennsylva- 
nia ;  for  in  that  province  which  covers  about  80  English  miles,  there 
are  about  2,500  Lutherans,  constituting  three  congregations  at  Phila- 
delphia, New  Hanover  and  Providence.  He  remained  with  me  over 
Easter,  and  on  Easter  Monday  he  preached  for  me.  The  congregation 
were  gratified,  and  we  gave  him  permission  to  ask  assistance  of  some 
of  the  wealthy  members.  He  collected  50  Rixthaler,  and  declared, 
that  in  all  his  collections  he  had  never  experienced  so  much  courtesy 
and  kindness*  as  he  had  met  with  in  our  conffresration. 


APPENDIX   TO   THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF   REPORT.  91 

XIII. 

Part  of  a  letter  of  Dr.  Ziegenhagen's,  dated  Kensington,  London, 
Feb.  5th,  1736,  addressed  to  G.  A.  Francke.  "Mr.  Daniel  Weisiger's 
perfidiousness  and  decei^tion  are  now  plain  enough.  Upon  his  arrival 
in  Philadelphia,  he  handed  over  to  the  congregation  neither  the  money 
nor  books,  except  two  or  three  bibles,  and  200  little  tracts  of  a  page  or 
.two,  each ;  and  he  affects  to  know  nothing  at  all  of  the  other  books  that 
were  bought  for  those  congregations.  He  pretends  that  there  is,  in 
Kotterdam,  a  chest,  in  charge  of  Mr.  Van  der  Putten,  in  which  these 
books  are  deposited,  as  he  says.  According  to  his  account,  the  whole 
sum  of  money  collected  in  Germany  was  not  more  than  494  Thalers, 
17  Gr.,  4  Pf ,  etc.  Now  I  know  that  he  got  over  100  Thalers  in  Han- 
nover, and  100  Rixthalers  from  the  Consistory  of  Wolfenbiittel ;  and  so, 
his  statement  of  the  whole  amount  appears  to  me  to  be  very  suspicious. 
As  I  hear,  the  miserable  creature  is,  just  now,  cutting  a  great  figure  in 
Philadelphia,  keeps  a  shop  full  of  all  kinds  of  wares,  and  sells  beer, 
and  rum  and  cider. 

This  whole  business  distresses  me  in  my  very  soul,  specially  on  ac- 
count of  the  awful  hypocrisy  of  Weisiger.  Without  any  intimations 
on  my  part,  your  Excellency  will  readily  perceive  what  damage  will 
be  done  to  others,  and  specially  to  those  who  have  aided  in  this  collec- 
tion, and  what  value  will  be  accorded  to  any  recommendations  which 
w^e  may  hereafter  write,  in  case  these  miserable  circumstances  should 
become  generally  known.  I  must  therefore  beg,  not  only  that  the  mat- 
ter in  general,  but  specially,  that  the  particulars  relating  to  H.  may  be 
kept  as  quiet  as  possible ;  and  I  think  that  it  is  most  advisable  not  to 
give  Pastor  S d  any  hint  upon  the  subject.  As  to  the  other  mis- 
erable collector,  the  ex-pastor  John  C.  Schultz,  I  have  heard  nothing 
about  him  for  a  long  time ;  but  I  do  not  doubt  that,  as  he  still  retains 
his  license  in  possession,  he  will  keep  on  with  his  decejotion  and  his 
thieving  practices.  Might  it  be  advisable  to  announce,  in  a  general 
way,  through  the  public  papers,  that  he  is  no  longer  authorized  to  re- 
ceive money  intended  for  this  collection?  The  congregations,  in  their 
last  letter,  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  that  effect.  I  submit  it,  how^- 
ever,  to  the  consideration  and  decision  of  your  Reverence. 

The  Lord  have  pity  upon  these  congregations  and  send  them  a  faith- 
ful pastor  instead  of  the  man  that  has  run  away !" 


XIV. 

Most  Worthy,  Most  Reverend  Court  Chaplain. 

It  is  not  encouraging  to  hear  what  has  at  length  come  to  light  con- 
cerning the  Philadelphia  collector,  Daniel  Weisiger.  Of  course  the 
affair  is  likely  to  give  great  offence,  and  sj^ecially  to  those  who  have 


92  APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIEST)  BRIEF  REPORT. 

generously  contributed  to  the  collection.  The  best  thing  however,  is, 
that  the  larger  portion  is  yet  safe  here,  in  our  hands.  Out  of  what 
had  been  given  by  the  Orphan  House  here,  Weisiger  had  received  not 
more  than  15  bibles,  8yo.,  15  copies,  12mo.,  and  50  copies  of  the  New 
Testament.  I  know  also  that  he  received  some  money  from  several 
friends  and  acquaintances  in  Halle,  but  I  cannot  state  the  exact 
amount.  It  could  not  have  been  a  large  sum.  To  the  best  of  my 
knowledge,  it  was  regularly  entered  in  his  collection  book ;  and  as  far 
as  I  remember,  what  he  received  in  Hannover,  Brunswick  and  other 
places  was  recorded  there,  likewise.  *  Now  if  he  produces  his  collection 
book,  the  total  sum  may  possibly  prove  to  be  correct ;  and  in  my  opin- 
ion, it  will  not  turn  out  to  be  so  very  large.  A  donation  of  medicines 
w^as  also  given  from  the  laboratory  of  the  Orphan  House,  and  I  hope 
to  be  able  before  I  dispatch  this  letter,  to  inform  you  what  it  amounted 
to.  The  accompanying  specification  will  describe  the  books  which  Mr. 
Fossgraf  in  Halle,  bound,  at  the  order  of  Weisiger.  He  received 
nearly  all  the  small  tracts  as  free  gifts.  If  the  two  boxes  of  books 
which,  he  says,  he  sent  to  Philadelj^hia,  and  the  box  which,  according 
to  his  statement,  he  left  in  charge  of  Mr.  Van  der  Putten,  in  Rotter- 
dam, should  arrive  safely,  then  p>ossibly,  his  proceedings  in  this  matter 
may  yet  be  justified. 

Meanwhile  we,  in  this  place,  will  give  all  possible  attention  to  the 
subject.  Your  Reverence  is,  no  doubt,  aware  that  the  preacher  Schultz, 
who  cam.e  to  Germany  in  company  with  Weisiger,  has  been  arrested  at 
Augsburg;  for  Senior  Urlsperger  has  sent  us  word  that  he  had  in- 
formed your  Reverence  to  that  eflfect.  Schultz,  indeed,  has  already 
been  liberated ;  but  I  do  not  doubt  that  his*  license  to  collect  money 
has  been  taken  from  him ;  and  so  he  will  not  be  able  to  carry  on  his 
impositions  any  longer. 

It  may,  therefore,  not  be  necessary,  as  far  as  Schultz  is  concerned,  to 
put  any  notice  in  the  public  papers.  Such  notice  might  be  unwise, 
for  the  reason  that  the  business  would  thereby  come  to  be  noised 
around  among  the  people ;  and  as  to  the  other  collectors  and  the  money 
they  have  received,  all  this  may  yet  be  more  careftdly  inquired  into. 
The  Rector  at  Oldeslor,  Pezold,*  is  a  restless  character ;  he  can  never 
stay  long  at  any  one  place ;  and  in  the  position  which  he  has  hitherto 
occupied,  people  have  not  been  satisfied  with  him.  Besides,  he  is  not 
a  man  of  sound  judgment,  and  we  can  make  nothing  out  of  him. 

As  to  the  congregation  at  Philadelphia,  I  wish  most  sincerely,  that 
w^holesome  counsel  may  be  given  them;  but  as  their  condition  has 
been  represented  to  me,  I  could  not  encourage  and  advise  any  good 
man  to  go  and  labor  among  them ;  for  I  cannot,  at  present,  see  how  he 
could  be  sustained. 

*  From  this  it  would  seem  that  Ziegenliagen  had  proposed  to  send  Pezold  to 
Philadelphia. 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT.  93 

Men  of  good  parts  are  needed  everpvhere ;  and  I  know  of  several 
places  where  such  men  may  be  employed.  I  therefore  have  my  doubts 
about  sending  a  good  man  to  America,  upon  an  uncertainty ;  and  be- 
sides, such  a  man  would  hardly  be  willing  to  go,  if  he  were  aware  of 
all  the  circumstances  of  the  case.  Now  to  keep  these  hidden,  and  to 
send  a  good  man  thither  with  the  iinpression  on  his  mind  that  matters 
are  otherwise  and  better  than  they  really  are,  is  a  movement  for  which 
we  could  not  be  responsible.  We  had  better,  then,  wait  for  another 
more  propitious  occasion,  when  either  the  people  themselves  will  be 
reduced  to  order  by  their  very  necessities,  or  we  can  obtain  a  stronger 
assurance,  that  when  a  good  man  is  sent  to  them  they  will  receive  him 
and  treat  him  in  a  becoming  manner.  Beyond  this  I  know  not  what 
advice  to  give;  unless  perhaps,  that  some  one  who  has  the  means, 
might  be  prevailed  upon  to  pay  for  several  years,  the  salary  of  the  pas- 
tor whom  we  may  send. 

Further ;  it  is  a  question  whether  it  would  be  right  to  send  one  man 
alone ;  because,  the  people  living  in  such  confusion  and  distracted  with 
all  kinds  of  whimsical  notions,  would  be  sure  to  make  his  life  a  very 
bitter  one.  In  view  of  these  things  he  ought  to  be  a  man  of  solid, 
commanding  character,  well  qualified  to  encounter  such  spirits;  and 
where  shall  we  find  such  a  man?  If  found,  would  he  be  willing  to  ac- 
commodate himself  to  the  task?  So,  the  business  is,  even  until  the 
present  hour,  beset  with  many  difficulties,  and  how  to  overcome  them 
I,  for  my  part,  cannot  tell. 

A  short  time  ago  Count  Zinzendorf,  with  his  lady,  his  oldest  son  and 
several  servants,  went  to  Holland.  Whether  his  purpose  is  to  return 
hither  or  to  go  to  West  India,  remains  to  be  seen. 

Halle,  March,  14th,  1736. 
Addressed  to  Dr.  Ziegenhagen,  Court  Chaplain. 


XV. 

Philadelphia,  Dec.  6th,  1736. 
To  the  Rev.  Prof  Dr.  G.  A.  Francke. 

Most  Worthy,  Most  Learned,  Most  Honored  Professor. 
Your  Reverence's  most  acceptable  letter  of  July  6th,  1735,  came 
safely  to  hand  Oct.  24th,  1736;  and  although  we  have  often  been  re- 
minded of  our  obligation  to  answer  it,  yet  we  have  not  been  able  to  re- 
turn such  answer  even  until  the  present  time.  All  along  our  purpose 
has  been  to  send  a  call  at  the  same  time  with  our  answer ;  but  we  con- 
fess, with  sorrow,  that  until  this  day  we  have  not  been  in  a  position  to 
do  so ;  for  Satan  has  been  striving,  sometimes  in  this  way,  sometimes 
in  that,  to  distract  and  break  up  our  congregation.  In  these  operations 
Mr.  Siron  has  done  whatever  he  could ;  for  he  has  not  only  instigated 
Mr.  Schultz  to  arrest  our  work  in  sending  our  collectors  to  secure  help 


94  APPENDIX  TO  THE  (FIRST)  BRIEF  REPORT. 

for  our  congregations,  but  he  has  also  endeavored  otherwise  to  create 
divisions ;  and  by  false  representations  sent  to  the  Court  ChajDlain  Zie- 
genhagen,  he  has  sought  to  oppose  the  undertaking.  However,  although 
as  the  result  of  all  this,  our  congregation  is  becoming  weaker,  still,  we 
pei*severe  in  our  ardent  desire  to  secure  a  faithful  pastor,  either  by  the 
help  of  your  Reverence  or  by  that  of  Dr.  Ziegenhagen.  Yet  we  must 
confess  that  the  condition  of  our  congregation  is  much  worse  than  we 
are  able  to  describe  in  a  letter. 

For  the  purpose  of  getting  some  one  to  hear  truthful  testimony  con- 
cerning our  condition  w^e  have  invited  Mr.  Bolzius*  to  visit  us,  and  re- 
quested Dr.  Ziegenhagen  to  permit  him  so  to  do;  yet,  we  have  had  no 
answer.  In  order,  how^ever,  to  come  to  something  definite,  we  have 
Svritten,  under  the  present  date,  to  Dr.  Ziegenhagen  and  made  this 
proposition,  that  as  we  can  send  neither  money  nor  a  call.  Dr.  Ziegen- 
hagen, with  the  co-operation  of  your  Reverence,  should  send  us  a  com- 
petent pastor,  defraying  his  traveling  expenses  and  paying  his  salary 
for  one  year,  out  of  the  funds  that  may  be  collected  for  us  in  Europe, 
in  order  that  he  may  investigate  our  circumstances,  and  then  furnish  a 
truthful  report.  In  this  letter  w^e  make  the  same  request  of  your  Rev- 
erence, hoping  that  you  will  do  for  us  whatever  lies  in  your  power. 
We  know  no  other  means  of  relief  and  defence  against  the  falsehoods 
that  have  been  circulated.  As  to  the  money  that  may  be  contributed 
on  behalf  of  these  congregations,  our  opinion  is,  that  it  should  be  in- 
vested in  land  or  put  out  at  interest,  that  the  revenue  may  be  appro- 
priated to  the  support  of  i^astors  and  teachers ;  that  the  congregations 
should  do  whatever  they  can  in  addition,  and  that  the  matter  of  per- 
quisites should  be  distinctly  agreed  upon.  We  solicit  an  expression  of 
your  Reverence's  views  upon  these  points. 

Mr.  Siron  has  persecuted  Mr.  Weisiger  with  much  violence  and 
brought  heavy  charges  against  him ;  of  which,  how^ever,  we  have  until 
this  day,  seen  no  proof;  on  the  contrary  we  hope  that  all  will  turn  out 
well.  Mr.  Weisiger  has  bound  himself  to  repay  the  72  Thaler,  9  Gr., 
8  P£,  which  your  Excellency  has  advanced  to  the  book-binder,  Foss- 
graf.  (See  App.  No.  IX  and  XIV.)  The  volumes  which  your  Rev- 
erence has  presented  and  those  that  were  purchased,  have  been  re- 
ceived recently.  For  the  active  beneficence  manifested  we  return  our 
hearty  thanks  to  your  Reverence,  and  wish  you  the  rich  blessing  of 
the  Lord. 

Some  immigrants  who  have  arrived  lately,  have  informed  us  about 
what  happened  to  Mr.  Schultz  at  Kiirnberg.  "  If  your  Reverence  should 
have  an  opportunity  to  secure  the  600  Gulden  which  were  given  to 
him  for  our  congregation,  and  afterwards  taken  from  him,  we  know  that 
your  Reverence  will  be  as  ready  to  serve  us  in  this  matter  as  you  have 
been  in  so  many  others  already.  Until  this  day  ^Ir.  Schultz  has  sent 
us  nothing ;  and  probably  he  is  not  willing  to  do  so. 

*  Pastor  Bolzius,  of  Georgia.     See  letter  in  No.  XIX. 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIESt)  BRIEF  REPORT.  95 

If  any  additional  contributions  for  us  should  be  placed  in  your  Rev- 
erence's hands,  you  will  yourself  know  hovr  to  dispose  of  them  so  as  to 
be  most  useful  for  our  congregations.  As  your  Keverence  has  in- 
formed us  that  Pastor  Maier  has  taken  much  interest  in  our  welfare, 
we  have  felt  bound  to  address  a  letter  to  him,  which  we  enclose  in  this 
one,  begging  you  to  forward  it  to  him. 

AVe  commend  ourselves  to  your  continued  sympathy,  both  in  en- 
couraging the  collection  of  money  and  in  securing  a  good  and  faithful 
pastor ;  and  upon  the  ending  of  the  old  year  and  the  beginning  of  the 
ncAV,  wishing  you  the  blessing  of  God  in  soul  and  body,  in  your  person 
and  in  your  family,  w^e  remain  your  most  obedient  servants. 

The  wardens  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregations  at  Phila- 
delphia, New  Hanover  and  Providence,  in  Pennsylvania. 

John  Geo.  Herger,  Thomas  Meyer,  Adam  H.  Dod,  John  N.  Croes- 
mann,  Jacob  Schrack,  (Geo.  Hollebach  had  died). 


XVI. 

Philadelphia,  Dec.  6th,  1736. 
To  the  Rev.  Pastor  John  Aug.  Maier,  at  Halle. 

Most  Reverend,  Most  Learned,  Most  Honored  Pastor. 

We  have  been  informed,  by  letter  received  lately  from  Dr.  Francke, 
of  the  fraternal  interest  you  have  taken  in  the  collections  set  on  foot 
for  the  benefit  of  our  congregations ;  and  although  the  special  motive 
of  this  work  is  the  advancement  of  the  glory  of  God,  yet  it  concerns  the 
welfare  and  salvation  of  our  own  souls  also.  We  therefore  feel  our- 
selves bound  to  offer  you  our  hearty  thanks. 

We  also  beg  that  your  Reverence  will  allow  us  most  earnestly  to 
commend  to  your  continued  favor  whatever  measures  are  calculated  to 
promote  the  kingdom  of  God  amongst  us.  Hoping  that  God  will  en- 
able you  to  end  this  year  in  peace,  and  for  the  future,  abide  with  you 
and  with  all  who  seek  the  Divine  Glory,  we  remain  your  Reverence's 
most  obedient  servants. 

John  G.  Herger,  Thomas  Meyer,  Adam  H.  Dod,  John  N.  Croes- 
mann,  Jacob  Schrack,  wardens  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congre- 
gations at  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Providence. 


XVII. 

Extract  of  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Court  Chaplain,  Dr.  Zie- 
genhagen,  dated  Philadelphia,  Dec.  6th,  1736. 

In  conclusion,  it  surprises  us  not  a  little,  that  as  we  have  several  times 
already  explained  to  your  Reverence  the  great  poverty  of  our  congre- 
gations, and  based  upon  it  our  plea  for  assistance,  you  yet  do  nothing 


96  APPENDIX    TO    THE    (fIRST)    BRIEF    REPORT. 

more  than  simply  insist  upon  our  placing  a  regular  call  in  the  hands 
of  Prof.  Fraucke,  a  thing  which  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  do  under  the 
conditions  prescribed  by  Mr.  D.  Gerdes  and  Prof.  Francke.  First  of' 
all,  our  congregations  are  located  far  apart.  K"ew  Hanover  is  40  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  and  Providence  30  miles.  Besides,  the  people  of 
each  of  these  congregations  are  scattered  over  more  than  20  miles  of 
the  surrounding  country,  are  mixed  up  amongst  Quakers,  Menncnites 
and  other  sects ;  and  worst  of  all,  those  of  them  who  profess  to  be  Lu- 
therans are  not  Avilling  to  enter  into  any  obligations,  although  they 
promise  to  do  their  part  as  soon  as  they  hnd  that  some  regular  order 
has  been  established,  which,  however,  under  the  disturbances  attending 
the  present  collections,  cannot  be  done. 

But  if  the  fidelity  and  competency  of  a  pastor  is  made  to  depend 
upon  a  large  salary,  or  if  they  who  come  to  teach  us  have  more  con- 
cern about  their  wages  and  the  fleece  than  about  feeding  the  flock, 
then,  indeed,  we  have  but  little  to  hope  for.  Such  a  man  may  well 
be  described  as  a  hireling  who  teaches  for  his  own  advantage  alone. 
This,  however,  would  be  of  little  benefit  to  us.  In  view  of  the  con- 
ditions annexed  to  the  call,  as  they  have  been  sent  to  us  by  Prof. 
Francke  and  specially  by  Mr.  D.  Gerdes,  it  seems  very  strange  to  us 
that  men  who  consider  such  a  call  to  be  a  Divine  act  should  show  such 
respect  to  the  idols  of  this  world  as  first  to  demand  the  assurance  that 
they  shall  have  a  sufiicient  supply  of  them  befijre  they  will  consent  to 
accept  a  call,  thus  putting  confidence  in  God  in  quite  a  subordinate 
position.  This  looks  very  much  as  if  money  were  the  inward  principle 
impelling  them  to  labor  in  the  Kingdom  of  God;  whereas,  a  bishop 
should  not  be  given  to  covetousness,  which  also  the  Lord  Himself  has 
signified,  commanding  his  disciples  not  to  carry  a  purse. 

Of  course,  we  do  not  propose  to  let  our  pastors  suffer  want,  but  much 
rather  to  support  them  according  to  our  ability.  On  the  other  hand, 
we  desire  as  our  pastor  not  a  covetous  man,  nor  one  ruled  by  temporal 
motives,  but  a  man  who  out  of  a  sincere  heart  and  out  of  love  to  God 
is  constrained  to  come  to  our  help  and  to  enter  into  the  pastoral  office 
amongst  us.  AVe  live  in  a  land  in  which  a  pastor  cannot  expect  to 
enjoy  himself  in  an  imposing  parsonage,  in  a  life  of  luxury  and  with 
large  revenues,  but  for  a  faithful  pastor  who  is  a  true  Apostle  of 
Christ,  and  has  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  in  him,  measures  will  certainly 
be  taken  to  secure  him  an  adequate  support. 

In  order  that  your  Reverence  may  thoroughly  understand  our  views, 
we  have  now  to  state  clearly  and  candidly  that  we  cannot  bind  our- 
selves either  to  raise  a  salary  of  50  pounds  sterling  per  year,  or  to 
advance  to  you  any  large  sum  to  meet  travelling  expenses,  or  to  defray 
the  expense  of  going  back  to  Germany  incurred  by  those  Avho  having 
come  to  us  are  not  willing  to  remain,  which  conditions  Mr.  D.  Gerdes 
has  laid  down  to  us,  as  also,  in  a  measure,  has  Prof.  Francke  himself. 
On  the  other  hand  we  do  humbly  propose  that  your  Reverence,  in 


APPENDIX    TO   THE    (fIRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT.  97 

connection  with  Prof.  Francke  whom  we  have  addressed  in  the  same 
terms,  may  send  to  us  some  good  man,  one  who  is  grieved  for  the 
affliction  of  Joseph ;  pay  his  travelling  and  incidental  expenses  and 
his  salary  for  one  year  out  of  the  funds  that  have  been  collected  for 
us  in  Europe;  give  him  fiiU  authority  to  investigate  everything  here 
thoroughly,  and  permit  him  to  return  to  Europe  in  case  he  should  not 
be  willing  to  remain  with  us,  in  order  that  he  may  give  you  an  ex- 
tended verbal  report  of  everything.  It  is  impossible  for  us  to  send 
you  the  money  for  the  expenses  of  the  journey,  because  most  people 
refuse  to  contribute  to  such  a  fund,  fearing  lest,  as  has  happened 
already  in  New  York,  we  might  receive  a  teacher  who  would  occasion 
more  harm  and  offence  than  benefit  and  edification  to  the  Church  as 
Preacher  Schultz  himself  has  done.  No  person  could  expect  that  one 
or  two  individuals  should  advance  the  whole  of  this  sum  themselves, 
for  by  so  doing  they  might  soon  lose  everything  they  have. 

In  addition  to  this  it  is  our  opinion  that  besides  expending  the 
money  that  has  been  collected  in  the  building  of  churches  and  school- 
houses,  it  should  be  used  also  in  the  purchase  of  land,  the  revenue 
from  which  may  be  devoted  forever  to  the  support  of  one  or  more 
pastors  and  schoolmasters  according  as  circumstances  may  require ;  this 
support  being  increased  by  the  addition  of  certain  perquisites  and 
adequate  contributions  to  be  agreed  upon  by  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregations. We  desire,  however,  first  to  be  informed  how  much  money 
we  may  expect  and  specially  to  be  assured  that  it  shall  be  transmitted 
to  us,  for  it  would  be  disastrous  to  make  a  purchase  without  being 
certain  that  we  could  make  payment  and  whence  the  payment  was  to 
come.  At  all  events,  it  would  be  well  to  put  the  money  out  at  interest, 
and  to  devote  the  interest  forever  towards  helping  to  raise  the  salary 
of  the  pastor. 

In  short,  in  due  time,  we  hope  to  be  able  to  make  good,  practical  ar- 
rangements for  the  support  of  one  or  more  pastors ;  although  at  first, 
only  one  faithful  teacher,  relying  upon  God  and  His  Favor,  should  be 
sent  to  us.  Such  a  man  may  help  us  to  put  matters  into  good  order; 
for,  we  have  no  doubt,  that  many  who  have  separated  themselves  from 
the  Church  may  be  brought  back  again,  and  the  wounds  inflicted  by 
Preacher  Schultz  may  be  healed. 

We  therefore  beg  your  Reverence  to  take  all  these  things  into  con- 
sideration ;  and  if  you  should  use  a  portion  of  the  money  that  has  been 
collected  for  us,  in  sending  over  to  us  some  one  whose  high  aim  is  to 
extend  the  Kingdom  of  Christ,  we  doubt  not,  that  God  would  add  His 
blessing  to  it.  We  shall,  at  all  times,  be  ready  to  do  in  favor  of  the 
work,  everything  that  we  possibly  can.  But  if  none  of  our  proposi- 
tions should  be  accepted,  then  we  can  do  nothing  else  than  patiently 
wait  for  the  salvation  of  God ;  commit  ourselves  to  the  Great  Shepherd 
and  Bishop  of  souls,  Christ  Jesus,  and  pray  that  Heaven  may  grant 
the  richest  rewards  to  all  those  who  have  kindly  contributed  on  our  be- 
7 


98  APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIRSt)  BRIEF  REPORT. 

half,  although  our  congregations  may  derive  no  benefit  from  what  they 
may  have  dune.  We  entreat  your  Reverence  still  to  extend  to  us  the 
favor  of  your  continued  care,  and  we  pray  that  you  may  be  rewarded 
with  every  blessing  from  above.  With  the  closing  of  the  old  year  and 
the  opening  of  the  new,  we  wish  you  health  and  peace,  and  remain  with 
profound  respect  your  faithful  servants, 

The  Wardens  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregations  at  Phila- 
delphia, New  Hanover  and  Providence. 


XVIII. 

Extract  of  .a  letter  from  Rev.  Senior  Urlsperger,  to  IMr.  Inspector 
Sarganeck,  Augsburg,  Oct.  4th,  1736. 
My  Dear  Inspector: 

I  received  your  favor  from  Neustadt,  in  due  time ;  I  hope  that  my 
answer  has  reached  you  in  like  manner. 

Just  now  I  write  to  state  what  the  Rev.  Pastor  Rig  (Rieger,  in  Stutt- 
gart?) has  made  known  to  me;  and  to  add  for  the  information  of  Prof. 
Francke  and  Mr.  Counsellor  Cellarius,  that  Mr.  Scholdhausen,  a  be- 
lieving merchant  of  Venice,  upon  returning  yesterday  from  Switzer- 
land over  Kempten,  reported  that  Dr.  Praun  had  told  him  in  the 
latter  place  that  he  himself  and  all  the  clerg\^men  there  were  of  opin- 
ion that  the  Schultz  who  had  been  arrested  as  a  forger  was  the  East 
India  missionary  Schultz,  which  will  have  a  very  bad  effect  upon  the 
reputation  of  the  ^lission.* 

Now,  as  it  is  very  probable  that  the  same  opinion  may  be  entertained 
in  other  places,  it  seems  to  me  that  it  would  be  wise  to  «  *  *  * 
[illegible  in  the  MSS.]  the  public ;  yet  in  such  a  way  as  that  the  name 
of  Schultze's  father  and  that  of  his  native  country  should  not  appear ; 
but  that  everything  else  should  be  stated  in  a  judicious  way.  I  have 
been  requested  to  draw  up  a  statement  to  that  effect,  in  order  to  avoid 
offences  that  for  divers  reasons  might  otherwise  be  taken.  If  anything 
is  to  be  offered  in  print,  I  confidently  expect  to  see*it  beforehand. 
Adieu. 


XIX. 

To  the  Wardens  at  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Providence. 
My  Dear  and  Honored  Sirs: 
Your  very  good  letter  of  Dec.  6th,  1736,  was  transmitted  to  me  by 
the  Rev.  Court  Chaplain  Ziegenhagen,  and  I  have  learned  from  it  that 
you  yourselves  and  other  members  of  your  congregations  m  Pennsyl- 

"  The  missionary  Benjainin  Schultze  did  not  return  from  Madras  before  1743. 
He  was  the  successor  of  Ziegenbalg,  in  Tranquebar. 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  (fIEST)  BRIEF  REPORT.  99 

yanla  continue  to  cherish  a  desire  for  a  competent  and  faithful  pastor. 
For  my  part,  I  should  most  willingly  help  you  in  this  matter  if  any- 
one could  be  found  who  would  be  willing  to  serve  you  under  the  cir- 
cumstances you  have  described.  But,  my  dear  sirs,  consider  your- 
selves, that  although  there  may  be  men  in  this  country  who  are  not 
swayed  by  temporal  calculations,  yet  they  might  not  be  strongly  in- 
clined to  go  to  a  place  where,  as  yet,  there  is  no  regular  organization  at 
all,  and  where  they  must  ever  anticipate  that  if  they  should  not  prove 
to  be  acceptable,  they  will  have  to  retrace  their  long  journey  again  in 
a  short  time.  It  would  not  help  you  if  we  were  to  send  a  young  man 
who  has  had  no  experience.  In  this  country  there  are  many  divers 
opportunities  of  useful  service  offered  to  all  competent  and  experienced 
men ;  and,  therefore,  even  though  a  man  may  not  take  mere  temporal 
considerations  into  account,  he  may  not  be  easily  persuaded  to  accept 
the  offer  of  a  position  in  w^hich  it  is  uncertain  whether  he  can  effect 
any  good,  whilst  many  positions  are  offered  to  him  in  this  country 
where  he  may  employ  his  powers  and  his  gifts  so  as  to  lead  to  useful 
results.  Under  these  circumstances,  and  because  amongst  you  there  is 
no  provision  made  for  the  pastor's  support,  and  other  regular  arrange- 
ments cannot  be  effected,  I  cannot  encourage  you,  my  dear  sirs,  to  ex- 
pect that  I  will  be  able  to  secure  any  pastor  for  you. 

I  have  written  to  Pastor  Boltzius  several  times,  requesting  him,  if 
possible,  to  undertake  a  journey  to  Pennsylvania  and  gather  informa- 
tion on  the  spot  concerning  the  Evangelical  congregations.  But  he 
has  answered  me,  that  under  the  existing  circumstances  of  his  own 
congregation  at  Ebenezer,  he  could  not  well  absent  himself  from  his 
post.  We  must  therefore  wait  patiently  to  see  if  the  thing  can  yet  be 
done;  for,  indeed,  I  have  indulged  the  hope  that  by  this  means  the 
way  might  be  opened  to  provide  better  things. 

I  am  sorry  Mr.  Siron  has  been  the  cause  of  any  disturbance  amongst 
you.  I  deeply  lament  his  departure  from  the  right  way  which  he  had 
followed  whilst  he  was  here  with  us,  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  here- 
after he  Avill  help  your  work  rather  than  hinder  it. 

The  contributions  yet  in  our  hands,  after  deducting  certain  expenses, 
amount  to  the  sum  of  *  *  *. 

I  had  hoped  that  by  this  time  you  w^ould  have  established  a  regular 
organization,  so  that  this  money  might  be  applied  in  such  manner  as  to 
satisfy  those  who  have  contributed  it.  I  have,  therefore,  retained  pos- 
session of  whatever  has  been  placed  in  my  hands,  because  the  donors 
themselves  might  take  it  in  bad  part  if  I  should  transmit  their  contri- 
bution without  knowing  how  it  was  to  be  used.  If  you  should  not  be 
able  to  come  to  a  regular  organization,  I  shall  forward  the  sum  above 
specified  to  Dr.  Ziegenhagen,  requesting  him  to  dispose  of  it  as  he  may 
think  proper. 

You  request  me,  my  dear  sirs,  to  use  part  of  the  money  in  my  hands 
for  the  purchase  of  certain  books,  to  be  sent  to  Captain  Stedtman,  in 


100  APPENDIX   TO    THE    (FISST)    BRIEF    P-EPORT. 

Rotterdam,  adding  at  the  same  time  that  these  books  ought  to  be  in 
Rotterdam  very  soon.  But,  specially,  as  I  have  no  copies  of  the  Mar- 
burg Hymn  Book  at  hand ;  and,  further,  because  you  have  not  given 
me  the  address  of  any  person  in  Rotterdam  who  may  deliver  the  books 
to  Captain  Stedtman,'  who  is  probably  not  always  there,  I  have  hesi- 
tated about  collecting  the  books  and  ^sending  them  forward  upon  an 

uncertaintv. 

As  to  the  money  Avhich  was  taken  from  Preacher  Schultz  at  ^  urn- 
berg,  Senior  Urlsperger  informs  me  that  it  amounted  to  520  Guldens. 
Some  time  ago  he  sent  me  word  that  he  would  transmit  this  money  to 
England,  which  I  doubt  not  he  has  already  done.  However,  I  will 
myself  write  to  Senior  Urlsperger  upon  the  subject. 

As  to  the  rest,  in  my  very  heart  I  hope  that  God  will  regard  the 
trying  circumstances  of  your  congregations,  that  the  sighing  of  those 
whose  earnest  souls  yearn  after  better  things  may  reach  His  ears, 
and  that  He  may  send  them  help  according  to  their  need.  For  the 
present,  I  can  give  you  no  higher  hope  than  I  allow  myself  to  indulge. 
Otherwise,  as  I  may  be  able  to  do  so,  I  shall  willingly  contribute  all 
that  lies  in  mv  power  to  the  building  up  of  your  Evangelical  congre- 
gations. In  submission  to  the  guidings  of  God's  grace,  and  wdth  best 
wishes  for  the  Divine  favor,  I  remain,  my  dear  sirs,  ever  your  willing 
servant,  G-  A.  Francke. 

Halle,  June  18th,  1737. 


I 


XX. 

Most  Worthy  Doctor : 

With  the  hearty  salutations  of  the  Rev.  Court  Chaplain,  I  send  you 
the  enclosed  letter,  -Nvhich  was  received  from  the  German  congregations 
in  Philadelphia,  etc.,  a  few  days  ago. 

They  repeat  their  request  for  a  j^astor,  but,  as  usually,  with  a  phrase- 
ology somewhat  forward  and  unpolished.  The  Rev.  Court  Chaplain 
begs'  that  you  will  not  allow  yourself  to  be  shocked  by  this  circum- 
stance, so  as  to  be  hindered  in  your  efforts  to  obtain  a  pastor  who  may 
be  suited  to  those  people  and  to  their  condition,  and  that  as  soon  as 
possible.  His  hearty  prayer  is,  that  the  Lord  Himself  may  designate 
the  right  man — the  man  who,  confiding  in  the  strength  of  the  Al- 
mighty, has  the  courage  and  capacity  to  gather  together  the  lost  sheep 
of  this  scattered  flock^  and  bring  them  back  to  the  Great  Shepherd, 
Christ  Jesus. 

We  have  not  yet  received  the  last  letters  from  East  India,  although 
the  whole  cargo  has  already  been  removed  from  the  ship  and  delivered 
at  the  East  India  House.*^  It  looks  as  if  they  had  been  lost.  Mr. 
Secretary  Plemmon  has  taken  much  pains  to  discover  them. 

The  missionaries  now  here  are  all  well  and  cheerful.     They  will 


APPENDIX    TO    THE    (Pir^ST)    BHIEF    REPORT.  101 

scarcely  set  sail  during  this  month ;  for  the  continuous  cold  weather, 
and  especially  the  active  levy  that  is  now  going  on  amongst  seamen, 
interferes  with  maritime  oj^erations. 
I  remain  most  worthy  Doctor, 

Your  most  ohedient  servant, 
Kensington,  Feb.  8th,  1740.  Samuel  Berein. 


XXI. 

Letter  of  the  three  congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  addressed  to  the 
Rev.  Court  Chaplain,  Ziegenhagen,  in  London,  Oct.  15th,  1739 : 
Most  Reverend,  Most  Honored  Cha23lain. 

Your  letter  of  Sept.  26th,  1738,  was  duly  delivered  by  Preacher 
Klug,*  and  has  been  read  with  sincere  respect.  It  seems,  from  your 
letter,  as  if  you  had  not  had  any  letter  or  answer  from  us  for  a  long 
time,  although  your  letter  of  Feb.  4th,  1736,  was  answered  by  us  on 
Dec.  6th,  1736.  Your  letter  had  first  been  broken  open  by  Mr.  Siron, 
and  then  handed  to  us ;  but  since  then  we  have  not  had  any  answer 
or  letter  from  him.  So,  for  our  part,  we  did  not  know  what  to  do  in 
the  matter.  But  now  we  see  from  your  last  letter  that  was  handed  to 
us  by  Preacher  Klug,  that  it  looks  as  if  you  had  never  received  our  let- 
ter of  Dec.  6th,  1736.  We  will  then,  in  this  place,  write  for  your  Rev- 
erence and  for  Prof  Francke,  what  our  fixed  opinion  is  about  the  call- 
ing of  a  preacher ;  because,  your  Reverence  says  in  your  letter,  that 
we  should,  by  all  means,  write  to  you  openly  and  honestly,  and  en- 
deavor, by  all  means,  to  come  to  a  brotherly  union  amongst  ourselves. 
As  to  our  being  united,  we  have  already  been  united  for  a  long  time 
in  this,  that  we  have  been  hoping  and  longing  for  a  good  pastor,  and 
have  been  living  along  in  the  hope,  that  your  fatherly  care  would  sup- 
ply us  with  such  a  one.  But  after  all  your  Avriting  about  it,  it  seems 
now,  that  you  either  cannot  or  will  not  do  this  until  you  first  get  cer- 
tain positive  and  satisfactory  assurances  from  the  congregations;  by 
which  terms  trust  in  God  is  altogether  put  out  of  sight.  It  looks  as  if 
money  had  more  power  than  any  spiritual  principle  has,  to  urge  you 
to  labor  for  the  spreading  of  the  Kingdom  of  God ;  although  a  bishop 
ought  not  to  be  covetous,  and  Christ  commanded  his  disciples  not  to 
carry  a  purse.  It  is  not,  at  all,  our  purpose  to  let  our  pastor  starve  or 
suflTer  want ;  but  we  desire  a  man  who  will  come  to  us  not  with  cove- 
tous views,  or  ruled  by  other  carnal  principles.  We  live  in  a  country 
where  a  teacher  or  preacher  cannot  expect  to  have  a  showy  parsonage, 
or  a  large  salnry,  or  an  easy,  comfortable  life;  and  it  is  not  possible 
for  us  to  promise  him  these  things.  But  due  arrangements  shall  be 
made  to  secure  an  ndequate  support  for  a  fiiithful  pastor  Avho  has  the 
spirit  of  Christ  dwelling  in  him. 

*  See  Muhlenberg's  Keport,  6th  Continuation,  June,  1749. 


102  APPENDIX   TO    THE    (fIRST)    BPwIEF    REPORT. 

We,  the  wardens  "and  elders  of  the  congregations,  though  giving 
great  labor  and  diligence,  have  not  been  able  to  send  out  to  you  such 
a  call  for  a  pastor  as  you  have  wished  us  to  send ;  Dr.  Gerdes  and 
Prof.  Francke  having  furnished  a  formula,  according  to  which  the  call 
should  be  drawn  up,  by  the  congregations.  We  could  not  do  what  you 
demanded ;  and  the  first  reason  is  this :  Our  people  here  are  scattered 
so  far  around  and  are  mixed  up  with  so  many  sects,  that  no  warden 
can  tell  who  are  members  of  his  congregation  until  they  come  together 
to  hear  a  sermon,  or  to  have  the  Lord's  iSupper ;  and  in  respect  to  these 
matters,  things  are  in  a  miserable  state.  If  any  of  the  schoolmastoi's 
who  have  come  from  Germany  undertakes  to  give  a  sermon,  in  such 
places,  hardly  half  of  the  people  come  together ;  because  many  have  an 
abhorrence  of  such  preachers,  since  they  even,  at  times,  take  upon 
themselves  to  give  the  Lord's  Supper,  though  they  are  not  regularly 
called  servants  of  Christ ;  and  therefore  such  a  ministry  does  not  be- 
long to  them.  The  reason  why  some  people  have  asked  them  to  do 
this  is  the  fact  that,  at  the  present  time,  there  is  not  one  German 
Lutheran  preacher  in  the  whole  land  except  Caspar  Stoever,  who  is 
now  60  English  miles  distant  from  Philadelphia.  Besides,  they  see 
that  they  have  no  reason  to  hope  for  the  assistance  of  your  Reverence 
in  securing  a  pastor,  unless  they  first  give  you  certain  satisfactory  as- 
surances; although  every  man,  according  to  his  ability,  would  willingly 
contribute  to  the  support  of  a  pastor,  if  only  one  man  whose  trust  is  in 
God  could  be  induced  to  come  to  us. 

Our  last  reason  is  this :  No  one  is  willing  to  subscribe  to  the  support 
of  a  clergyman,  as  you  require  us  to  do,  until  we  first  see  what  kind  of 
a  man  we  are  to  get,  and  know  that  he  is  worthy  of  confidence ;  so  that 
we  may  not  be  burdened  with  great  expenses  out  of  Avhich  no  good  can 
come.  Also,  that  we  may  not  get  another  hireling  like  as  preacher 
Schultz  was,  or  like  the  specimen  that  was  in  a  place  called  Raritan, 
which  is  connected  with  the  New  York  congregation.  Some  persons 
called  him  and  brought  him  over  from  Hamburg,  at  great  expense. 
But  when  he  came  and  began  to  preach  in  the  congregations  that  had 
called  him,  it  turned  out  that  he  had  not  the  gift  to  preach  the  Word 
of  God  as  it  becomes  a  clergyman  to  do.  The  congregations  bore  with 
him  patiently,  for  a  long  time ;  but  when  they  found  that  he  would 
not  try  to  improve  himself,  they  did  not  want  his  services  as  preacher, 
any  longer.  But  as  he  determined  to  force  himself  upon  them  and 
kept  at  law  with  them  for  more  than  two  years,  the  congregations  were 
not  only  oppressed  Avith  great  expenses,  but  also  distracted  with  con- 
fusion and  divisions,  in  consequence.  Your  Reverence,  as  also  Prof. 
Francke,  will  understand  therefore,  that  the  congregations  are  afraid 
to  subscribe  to  such  a  call  as  you  have  required.  You  see  that  they 
are  afraid  lest  they  might  get  such  a  man  as  we  have  described,  or  a 
man  who  would  allow  himself  to  be  led  astray  by  other  sects,  as  sev- 
eral have  already  done  in  this  country;  whereby  the  congregations 
have  been  plunged  into  great  confusion. 


APPENDIX   TO   THE    (FIRSt)    BPJEF    REPORT.  103 

If  your  Reverence  and  Prof.  Francke  also  could  see  with  your  own 
eyes  the  sad  condition  of  the  many  poor  people  who  are  coming  to  this 
country  every  year  and  are  put  out  to  service  among  other  sects ;  poor 
people  who  would  be  so  glad  to  go,  on  Sunday,  to  a  church  of  their 
own  confession,  so  that  they  might  not  attend  the  meetings  of  other 
sects  and  thus  be  misled  at  last,  as  many  indeed  have  already  been, 
and  in  this  very  way,  in  consequence  of  our  lack  of  reverend  clergy 
and  of  our  regular  church  service,  if  you  could  see  this,  then  you  would 
understand  that  in  case  you  continue  to  hold  back  and  delay  any  lon- 
ger, you  will  surely  have  a  great  responsibility  upon  you  in  the  pres- 
ence of  God,  on  that  great  Day  of  Judgment,  because  you  have  not  so 
much  as  permitted  the  collected  funds  to  be  applied  to  the  objects  to 
which  benevolent  hearts  have  given  them,  that  is  the  building  of  our 
churches  and  schools.  The  Lord  reward  all  these  benevolent  friends 
a  thousand  fold,  in  every  way ;  although  you  see  proper  to  withhold  it 
from  us  under  the  pretext,  that  we  must  first  call  a  preacher  whom  you 
know  and  can  trust,  and  must  expressly  promise  and  bind  ourselves  to 
give  him  a  certain  specified  salary,  every  year,  all  which  is  directly 
contrary  to  the  teachings  of  Christ,  who  says.  Matt.  6:33:  "  Seek  ye 
first  the  Kingdom  of  God  and  His  righteousness,  and  all  these  things 
shall  be  added  unto  you."  So  we  believe,  and  we  are  convinced  that 
if  a  faithful  pastor  whose  trust  is  in  the  Lord,  were  to  come  to  us,  all 
these  things  would  be  added  to  him,  and  he  w^ould  have  a  rich  abund- 
ance to  help  him  through.  But  so  far  the  principle  seems  to  be,  pro- 
vide for  the  body  first,  before  the  salvation  of  souls  can  be  considered. 

And  now  again  we  most  fervently  beseech  your  Reverence  and  also 
Prof  Francke  not  to  keep  on  raising  so  many  difiiculties  and  objections 
by  which,  as  far  as  the  pastor's  salary  is  concerned,  trust  in  the  help  of 
God  is  entirely  overlooked.  As  you  had  expressed  so  much  fear  lest 
the  man  you  would  send  to  us  might  be  reduced  to  absolute  Avant,  we 
wrote  to  you  before,  requesting  you  to  pay  him  his  salary  for  the  first 
two  years,  so  that  he  may  have  no  fear  of  being  reduced  to  absolute 
want  as  you  suppose — etc.,  etc. 

You  see  then,  your  Reverence  and  Prof.  Francke,  that  we  once  more 
make  our  request  and  petition,  that  as  we  cannot  bring  about  such  a 
vocation  concerning  the  calling  of  a  preacher  as  you  w^ant  us  to  send 
out  to  you,  this  is  what  we  three  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New 
Hanover  and  Providence  ask  of  you,  that  you  choose  a  preacher  for  us 
who,  in  your  opinion,  is  a  steady  man,  on  w^hose  honesty  you  and  w^e 
can  depend ;  that  you  pay  to  him  the  expenses  of  his  voyage  out  of 
the  money  in  your  hands,  which  w^as  collected  for  the  building  of  our 
churches  and  schoolhouses ;  that  you  give  him  also  a  couple  of  bills 
of  exchange,  as  much  as  you  yourselves  think  proper,  to  support  the 
preacher  for  two  years,  so  that  you  may  feel  that  you  are  altogether 
safe.  Then  w^e  will  take  all  the  money  that  may  be  collected,  in  the 
two  first  years,  towards  the  support  of  a  preacher,  and  apply  it  to  the 
building  of  churches  and  schoolhouses  in  the  three  congregations. 


104  APPE^^DIX   TO   THE   (flilST)   BRIEF   REPORT. 

We  expect  to  be  able  to  make  such  good  arrangements,  during  tbis 
time,  that  one  or  two  peachers  may  be  honestly  supported.  But  if  you 
cannot  grant  our  petition  in  this  way,  then  we  beg  you  to  inform  us  as 
soon  as  you  can,  so  that  you  may  not  keep  us  any  longer  in  suspense  in 
such  important  matters,  and  so  that  we  may  have  one  called  from  some 
other  place,  that  everything  may  not  come  to  confusion  at  last.  We 
request  also  that  the  books  in  your  hands,  and  which  were  given  by 
good  friends,  may  be  sent  to  us  at  the  same  time ;  but  do  not  send  any 
more  for  this  time,  until  a  preacher  comes  and  sees  what  kind  of  books 
are  most  needed. 

In  the  meantime  we  commend  you  to  the  care  and  gracious  guidance 
of  God ;  and  continuing  to  rely  upon  your  fatherly  sympathy,  we  re- 
main your  Keverence's  obedient  children  in  the  Lord,  the  Wardens 
and  Elders  of  the  three  congregations  at  Philadelphia,  etc. 

Henry  Kilber,    Thomas  Meyer,  Matthew  Ringer. 

George  Beck,      John  N.  Crcessman,    Jacob  Schrack. 

P.  S. — We  yet  add,  that  the  change  in  the  names  of  the  subscribers, 
which  your  Reverence  will  notice,  is,  because  the  congregations  have 
elected  new  officers  in  place  of  the  former  ones. 

Also,  wdien  you  direct  a  letter  to  us,  it  should  be  delivered  or  ad- 
dressed to  Michael  Hellengase,  in  Second  Street,  Philadelphia,  who 
will  deliver  it  to  us. 

Also,  we  intended,  in  these  few  lines,  to  report  to  your  Reverence 
and  to  Prof  Francke  how  our  business  with  ^Mr.  Weisiger  and  the 
Messrs.  Schultze,  of  Holland,  was  settled  ;  for  Mr.  Weisiger  had  left  a 
box  of  books  behind  him,  in  Holland,  in  charge  of  Melchior  Schultze. 
But  M.  Schultze  himself  left  them  behind.  As  soon  as  he  arrived  here 
he  and  his  brother,  George  Schultze,  called  us  to  a  settlement  at  once, 
and  the  result  Avas,  that  we  owed  him  103  dollars,  5  shillings,  8  pence, 
Pennsylvania  money.  In  this  settlement  he  charged  us  with  all  the 
expenses  of  the  box  of  books,  including  even  its  freight  on  the  ship. 
But  as  Mr.  Weisiger  had  no  collection  moneys  to  pay  over  and  as  we 
did  not  know,  at  that  time,  whether  he  had  acted  honestly,  in  all 
things,  we,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  Messrs.  Schultze  from 
casting  him  into  prison,  felt  ourselves  bound  to  the  jMessrs.  Schultze  to 
allow  the  money  which  Weisiger  had  paid  to  Melchior  Schultze  in 
Holland  to  stand  to  his  credit;  and  besides,  to  take  upon  ourselves 
something  that  had  been  charged  against  him.  All  this  we  did  so  that 
he  might  be  free  from  Messrs.  Schultze.  But  these  men  then  began  to 
press  very  hard  upon  us,  to  have  their  claims  satisfied,  before  they  de- 
livered the  books,  before  they  would  even  giv^  security  for  their  de- 
livery. They  had  two  of  our  wardens  arrested  at  once  and  brought 
suit  against  us  at  Court.  This  suit  hung  on  for  more  than  nine 
months ;  and  even  then  it  was  not  settled  by  the  Court ;  for,  the  Court 
appointed  three  merchants  who  decided  the  case.     Their  decision  was 


APPENDIX    TO   THE    (S'IRSt)    BRIEF    REPORT.  105 

that  Messrs.  Scliultze  must  give  us  security  for  the  books  and  we  must 
pay  them  the  money  within  the  period  of  a  month.  But  as  they  coukl 
not  give  us  any  satisfactory  security  they  had  to  submit  to  wait  for  the 
money  until  they  had  received  the  books  and  delivered  them  to  us. 
AVhich  being  done,  we  paid  them  the  above-mentioned  sum,  at  once ; 
Mr.  Weisiger  giving  them  a  note  of  hand  for  42  dollars,  which  they 
accepted  and  the  balance  being  paid  by  the  wardens  and  congregations. 

After  all,  Mr.  Weisiger  still  owes  the  congregations  77  dollars,  15 
shillings,  Pennsylvania  currency,  for  which  he  has  given  his  note  of 
hand,  though  the  congregations  will  never  get  anything  from  him  ;  for 
the  merchants  have  taken  possession  of  all  he  had,  still  holding  a  claim 
of  300  dollars  against  him ;  but  allowing  him  a  certain  definite  time 
for  payment.  Now  if  we  should  push  him  for  what  he  owes  us  we 
should  have  considerable  expense,  and  would  get  nothing  from  him,  in 
the  end. 

So,  we  hope  that  your  Eeverence  will  not  encourage  the  thought  that 
the  wardens  have  squandered  the  money  that  has  been  collected.  We 
have  been  deceived  by  the  hypocrisy  of  the  wicked  collectors  ;  and  this 
hypocrisy  you,  no  doubt,  observe  in  their  conduct  yourself,  although 
you  would  not  have  suspected  it  in  Mr.  Weisiger.  To  all  these,  our 
undertakings,  we  have  given  much  toil  and  diligence ;  thinking  that 
the  Glory  of  God  would  be  advanced  thereby ;  but  alas,  what  a  ruin ! 

Now  we  once  more,  hereby,  entreat  your  Reverence  and  Dr.  Francke 
to  write  to  us  by  the  first  ship  that  sails  for  Philadelphia,  and  inform 
us  whether  you  will  send  us  a  preacher  according  to  our  petition  as 
expressed  in  this  letter,  signed  above  by  the  wardens,  giving  him  his 
salary  for  two  years  out  of  the  collection  moneys.  If  you  cannot  do 
this,  then  we  beg  you  to  inform  us,  during  the  next  year,  so  that  we 
may  not  be  put  ofi*  any  longer.  There  are  other  persons  who  will  send 
us  preachers,  if  you  are  not  able  to  help  us ;  and  in  this  important 
business  we  do  not  wish  to  be  subjected  to  any  more  delay.  We  shall 
wait  until  we  think  we  have  had  time  enough  to  receive  an  answer  to 
this  present  Avriting. 

We  commend  you  to  the  care  and  gracious  guidance  of  God ;  and, 
still  relying  upon  your  fatherly  sympathy  we  ever  remain 

Your  Reverence's  Children  in  the  Lord. 

P.  S. — Also,  if  you  write  to  us,  the  letter  ought  to  be  directed  in  this 
way,  "To  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Michael  Hellengass,  living  in  Philadel- 
phia, Second  street." 


CONTINUATION   OF  BRIEF    REPORT 

COXCERXING 

CERTAIN   EVANGELICAL  CHURCHES 

IN  AMERICA. 

PRINTED  AT  THE  ORPHAN  HOUSE  IN  HALLE,  174,5. 


(27)  1.  Last  year  a  short  report  was  printed  and  published  con- 
cerning several  evangelical  congregations  in  America,  in  which, 

among  other  things,  it  may  be  seen  how  and  in  what  various  ways  the 
German  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New 
Hanover  and  Providence  had  besought  Prof.  Dr.  Francke,  in  Halle, 
and  the  Koyal  Court  Preacher,  the  Rev.  Frederick  M.  Ziegenhagen, 
in  London,  to  send  them  a  regular  minister  of  the  Gospel  to  become 
their  pastor.  It  may  also  be  seen  how,  after  the  removal  of  certain 
obstacles,  the  Rev.  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg  was  sent,  in  compli- 
ance with  their  desire;  and  how,  upon  his  ha23py  arrival  in  Philadel- 
phia, Nov.  25,  1742,  he  was  most  heartily  welcomed  by  the  congrega- 
tions named  above,  to  which  also  the  congregation  in  Germantown  had 
been  added.  It  was  also  stated  in  the  same  report,  that  because  the 
strength  of  one  pastor  proved  not  to  be  equal  to  the  work  required, 
Muhlenberg  himself  and  the  aforesaid  congregations  also  renewed 
their  earnest  entreaties,  begging  that  other  assistants,  both  for  churches 
and  schools,  might  be  sent  to  them.  In  compliance  with  this,  Mr. 
Peter  Brunnholtz,  the  second  pastor,  and  the  two  assistants  or  cate- 
chists,  Mr.  Schaum  and  Mr.  Kurtz,  having  accepted  the  call,  set 

(28)  off  on  July  1,  1744,  from  Hamburg,  through  England,  on  their 
journey  to  Pennsylvania.  ^ 

From  the  same  report  it  may  also  be  understood  that  the  moneys  so 
kindly  contributed  by  benevolent  friends  have  been  used  to  defray  the 
traveling  expenses  of  the  several  laborers  who  have  been  sent  off,  and 
also  to  meet  the  urgent  necessities  resulting  from  the  building  of  the 
two  churches  in  Philadelphia  and  Providence,  though  even  this  will 
fall  short  of  what  is  needed.  With  all  this,  then,  the  reader  may  ob- 
serve how  flivorable,  notwithstanding  all  the  difficulties,  were  the  cir- 

(106) 


CONTINUATION    OF    BRIEF    REPORT,    ETC.  107 

cumstances  under  which  Pastor  Muhlenberg  began  his  labors  in  these 
congregations.  Both  the  young  and  the  old  longed  for  his  instructions 
in  the  Word,  and  received  them  with  meekness;  parents  with  their 
children,  and  people  already  advanced  in  years,  were  baptized.  These 
and  other  adults,  some  of  them  married  persons,  were  prepared  for 
their  first  communion.  In  a  word,  the  attention,  the  interest,  the  meek- 
ness with  which  these  people  received  the  instruction  of  the  Divine 
Word  w^ere  a  very  joy  of  heart  to  Muhlenberg,  and  tended  greatly  to 
lighten  the  burden  of  his  labors. 

2.  It  has  repeatedly  been  asked  whether  we  have  any  information  of 
the  arrival  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz  and  his  companions  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  whether  the  Divine  favor  w^hich  marked  the  beginning  of  the  work 
there  still  continues  to  the  present  time.  Now  as  we  believe  it  will  be 
a  joy  to  all  good  people  whose  hearts  are  interested  in  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Kingdom  of  God  in  general,  and  in  Pennsylvania  in  par- 
ticular, and  who,  by  their  benevolent  contributions,  have  promoted  the 
work  there,  w^e  cannot  refrain  from  stating  here  that  such  information, 
though  long  delayed,  has  at  last  been  received,  and  that  quite  recently. 
On  May  22d  of  this  year,  the  long-expected  letters  from  Pastor  Muh- 
lenberg and  Pastor  Brunnholtz  in  Philadelphia,  addressed  to  the  Court 

Preacher  Ziegenhagen  and  Prof.  Dr.  Francke,  in  Halle,  arrived. 
(29)  These  letters  were  written  in  the  month  of  March,  and  contain 

an  account  of:  1,  the  safe  arrival  of  the  assistants  above  named ; 
2,  many  trials  encountered  by  Pastor  Muhlenberg  and  the  Divine  help 
W'hich  was  granted  to  him ;  3,  the  continued  blessing  upon  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Gospel ;  4,  many  remarkable  circumstances  connected  with 
the  building  of  the  churches.  We  j)ropose  now  to  gather  the  most 
important  of  all  these  items  together,  and  to  present  them  in  order,  as 
a  thankful  acknowledgement  of  the  goodness  of  the  Lord. 

3.  As  to  the  first  point — the  safe  arrival  of  the  assistants.  Any  one 
who  will  call  to  mind  w^hat  we  have  stated  in  our  report,  how  many 
and  weighty  were  the  labors  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  how  many  and 
how  long  his  journeys  throughout  the  four  congregaticms,  how  faith- 
fully he  met  and  discharged  every  duty,  never  considering  his  own 
ease,  will  readily  comprehend  wdth  what  anxious  longing  he  must  have 
awaited  the  arrival  of  the  assistants  that  had  been  asked  for.  It  was 
well  known  that  it  had  become  absolutely  necessary  to  send  him  help, 
for  without  it  he  would  be  sure  to  sink  under  his  labors;  and,  there- 
fore, all  diligence  was  engaged  to  send  him  tlie  desired  help  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment. 

The  desire  of  these  assistants  themselves  to  reach  America  at  an 


108  CONTINUATION   OF    BRIEF    REPORT   CONCERNING 

early  day,  and  to  join  Muhlenberg  in  his  work  was  very  strong.  Yet, 
they  had  to  learn  to  submit  the  gratification  of  this  desire  to  the  will 
of  God.  On  account,  chiefly,  of  contrary  winds,  their  journey  from 
Hamburg  to  England  occupied  three  weeks,  and  then  not  only  was 
considerable  time  spent  in  England  awaiting  the  departure  of  a  ship, 
but  even  after  they  had  embarked  at  Gravesand,  Sept.  22d,  1744,  they 
Avere  detained  in  the  harbor  for  nine  Aveeks,  until  finally  they  put  to 
sea  on  Nov.  29th,  under  convoy  of  the  fleet  of  Admiral  Da  vers.  ^ 

4.  In  regard  to  the  voyage  to  Philadelphia  and  their  arrival  there 
we  are  informed,  that  when  they  were  at  sea,  on  the  third  day,  a  vio- 
lent storm  scattered  the  fleet  so  completely  that  there  was  only  one 

man-of-war  left  in  sight  as  their  convoy,  which  attended  them 
(30)  through  the  Spanish  Main  to  Cape  Finisterre,  and  which  they  left 

there  on  Dec.  9th.  For  the  first  eleven  days  the  voyage  was  pros- 
perous, but  after  that,  for  four  weeks,  they  were  driven  about  by  contrary 
winds  and  by  storms,  sometimes  so  violent  that  they  had  to  lash  the  rud- 
der; yet  on  January  26th,  1745,  they  arrived  safely  in  Philadelphia. 
They  met  with  no  hostile  vessel  on  the  whole  voyage,  and  upon  landing, 
their  health  was  good  and  sound.  Having  left  the  ship,  and  on  their  way 
to  the  city,  they  were  met  by  a  German  coming  out  of  the  Avoods,  who, 
noticing  that  they  Avere  strangers  just  landed  from  the  A^essel  lying  in 
the  river,  asked  them  AA'hether  any  Evangelical  clergymen  had  come 
with  them.  When  they  had  told  him  Avho  they  AA^ere,  he  conducted 
them,  at  once,  Avith  great  joy,  to  a  German  merchant,^  by  Avhom,  as 
well  as  by  the  elders  and  other  members  of  the  church,  who  had  been 
informed  of  their  arri\^al,  they  AA'ere  recei\"ed  and  Avelcomed  Avith  many 
demonstrations  of  gladness.  All  united  in  heartily  thanking  God  for 
their  happy  arrival,  even  as  they  had  previously  ofiered  public  pray- 
ers that  His  special  protection  and  blessing  might  attend  these  breth- 
ren upon  their  voyage.  A  courier  AA^as  sent  off"  at  once,  to  couA^ey  the 
good  neAvs  to  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  Avho  Avas  then  occupied  in  the  con- 
gregations in  the  country. 

5.  Muhlenberg  having  returned  to  Philadelphia  immediately,  Mr. 
Brunnholtz  preached  to  the  congregation  there  on  the  folloAA^ing  Sun- 
day, and  AA'as  received  and  recognized  as  their  regular  teacher  and  sec- 
ond pastor,  his  call  being  draAvn  up  in  their  name,  and  confirmed  and 
signed  by  the  vestry  and  the  members  themselves.  The  same  order 
was  observed  in  GermantoAA^n  on  February  5th,  the  same  at  Provi- 
dence,* on  Sunday  February  7th,  and  in  like  manner,  on  the  9th,  at 
New  Hanover.  Thus  he  Avas  introduced,  alike,  into  all  four  churches, 
because  it  was  thought  best  that  he  and  Pastor  Muhlenberg  should  be- 


CERTAIN    EVANGELICAL   CHURCHES   IN   AMERICA.  109 

gin  the  work,  by  laboring  in  common,  in  all  the  several  congregations. 
Both  having  the  same  ends  in  view,  in  the  difierent  charges,  they  could 

thus  be  more  helpful  to  one  another,  even  if  they  should  after-' 
(31)  wards,  upon  a  clearer  discernment  of  the  Divine  Will,  be  led  to 

make  a  regular  division  of  the  congregations. 
As  regards  the  two  Assistants  or  Catechists,  after  earnest  prayer  and 
a  careful  consideration  of  all  the  circumstances,  it  was  concluded,  that 
Mr.  Kurtz  should  take  charge  of  the  school  in  New  Hanover  and  Mr. 
Schaum  should  remain  in  Philadelphia,  each  of  them  having  a  school, 
in  which  even  people  of  advanced  years  are  not  ashamed  to  mingle 
with  the  children  and  to  begin  with  the  alphabet.  In  a  word,  the  con- 
gregations thankfully  acknowledge  the  blessing  granted  both  to  the 
churches  and  the  schools  through  these  new  teachers,  and  offer  hearty 
thanks  to  God  on  that  account. 

6.  Pastor  Brunnholtz  states  very  particularly,  that  in  all  these  con- 
gregations there  is  a  very  sincere  affection  and  veneration  felt  and 
shown  towards  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  because  they  see  what  a  different 
spirit  he  has  from  that  which  animates  the  people  who,  without  a  regu- 
lar call,  foist  themselves  as  teachers  upon  the  Church.  He  states  also, 
that  notwithstanding  much  attendant  weariness,  toil  and  anxiety,  Pas- 
tor Muhlenberg  has  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office,  and 
that  the  Lord  has  stood  by  him  in  all  the  straits  and  trials  that  have 
befallen  him.  His  faithful  services  have  been  so  abundantly  prospered, 
that  not  only  is  the  external  state  of  affairs  considerably  improved,  but 
also,  many  souls  have  been  truly  blest  and  edified,  and  many  encourage 
the  hope  of  better  things,  many  who  have  been  attracted  and  won,  in 
great  measure,  by  his  meek  and  loving  example.  In  addition  to  this, 
Pastor  Brunnholtz  expresses  the  hope,  that,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  he 
himself  will  be  enabled  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office  in  like  man- 
ner, not  only  by  publicly  preaching  the  Gospel  in  its  purity  and  sim- 
plicity; but  also  and  especially,  by  laboring  to  bring  it  directly  home, 
in  its  saving  power,  to  the  souls  of  his  people.  For  the  purpose  of  be- 
coming better  acquainted  with  the  individual  members  of  his  flock, 
and  in  order  that  he  might  be  able  to  reprove,  instruct  and  exhort 
them  according  to  their  several  circumstances  and  necessities,  he  has 
undertaken  to  visit  them,  from  house  to  house.  Having,  upon  this 
visitation,  found  many  souls  who  were  hungering  for  the  Word 
(32)  of  the  Lord,  he  and  Pastor  Muhlenberg  propose  to  give  them 
more  specific  instruction,  teaching  them  how  to  build  upon  the 
true  Foundation. 

7.  As  to  the  second  point  specified  above,  viz. :  the  many  trials  en- 


110  COXTINUATION   OF    BRIEF    PvEPORT   CONCERXIXG 

countered  by  Pastor  Muhlenberg  in  his  official  work ;  that  may  be 
satisfactorily  presented  by  furnishing  certain  extracts  from  his  own 
letters.  He  states  that,  first  of  all,  he  was  troubled,  in  no  small  meas- 
ure, not  only  by  the  fact,  that  the  coming  of  his  assistants  had  been  so 
long  and  so  unaccountably  delayed ;  but  also  by  the  circumstance,  that 
owing  to  the  existing  hostilities  at  sea,  letters  addressed  to  him  from 
Germany  and  England  failed  to  arrive  when  due.  In  addition  to  his 
own  personal  anxieties  and  cares  growing  out  of  these  facts,  certain 
enemies  had  taken  occasion  to  insult  and  ridicule  him,  stating  that  his 
friends  and  benefactors  in  Europe  had  cast  him  off;  and  still  worse, 
others  endeavored  to  arouse  suspicion  in  the  congregations  against 
him ;  spreading  slanderous  reports,  to  the  effect  that  he  had  applied  to 
his  own  use  the  money  which  had  been  collected  for  the  churches. 
This  calumny,  however,  Avas  completely  silenced  upon  the  arrival  of 
the  letters  from  Europe,  which  contained  also  the  balance  of  the 
moneys  that  had  been  contributed. 

The  fabricator  of  these  slanders  was  a  certain  man  who  had  been  de- 
posed from  the  ministry  in  Germany  ;*  and  who,  on  divers  occasions 
afterwards,  displayed  his  spiteful  spirit.  However,  as  Pastor  Muhlen- 
berg's faithfulness,  both  in  ministering  to  the  churches  in  general  and 
to  the  spiritual  wants  of  all  his  hearers,  was  abundantly  manifest,  their 
confidence  in  him  was  in  no  degree  weakened ;  much  more  was  it  con- 
firmed and  strengthened  by  the  convincing  evidences  of  his  integrity. 
Even  persons  who  had  been  deceived  by  the  slanderer  were  won  from 
their  delusion  and  numbered  amongst  Muhlenberg's  faithful  friends. 
But  yet,  even  grosser  and  more  barefaced  slanders  were  sometimes  put 
in  circulation,  before  which,  however,  God  brought  forth  his  innocence 
clear  and  fully  in  the  light  of  day.  Whilst  it  would  be  superfluous  to 
specify  other  reproaches  that  he  had  to  endure  for  Christ's  Name's  sake 
we  may,  in  general,  state,  that  both  in  his  person  and  in  his  office  he 
w^as,  here  and  there,  openly  and  bitterly  defamed  and  derided,  his  ene- 
mies seeking  to  hinder  his  work  by  inventing  and  applying  to  him 
such  reproachful  names  and  epithets  as  the  world  usually  employs  to 
express  its  hostility  to  true  Religion.  The  Lord,  however,  did  not  per- 
mit them  to  succeed ;  but  favored  Muhlenberg  the  more  powerfully  in 
the  conviction  and  conversion  of  many  souls.  Indeed,  without 
(33)  any  direct  efforts  on  his  part,  as  we  learn  from  the  Eeport  of  Pas- 
tor Brunnholtz,  the  more  his  enemies  sought  to  traduce  him,  the 
more  respect  did  he  enjoy  at  the  hands  of  all  who  were  not  blinded  by 
prejudice  and  the  higher  did  his  character  rise  in  the  esteem  of  all  his 
hearers. 


CERTAIN  EVAI^^GELICAIi  CHURCHES  IN  AMERICA.  Ill 

8.  The  third  item  we  have  proposed  to  consider  in  this  writing  re- 
lates to  the  continued  blessing  upon  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  in 
Pennsylvania.  Now  the  Lord  has  not  only  given  to  Pastor  Muhlen- 
berg the  health  and  strength  necessary  for  the  faithful  prosecution  of 
his  pastoral  work,  not  permitting  his  foes  to  triumph  over  him  or  to  in- 
terfere with  his  regular  preaching  of  the  Word  ;  but  He  has  also  con- 
tinued and  even  increased  the  Divine  blessing  which  formerly  attended 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  as  has  been  stated  in  our  first  Report.  Of 
this  Muhlenberg  gives  us  the  following  instances  in  the  letters  referred 
to  above. 

In  the  congregation  at  Germantown  he  has  instructed  a  small  class 
of  young  people  and  admitted  them  to  their  first  communion.  At  the 
same  place  he  baptized  three  grown  children  of  one  family  and  one 
married  man  nearly  40  years  of  age,  with  his  two  children,  also  well 
grown.  These  children  themselves  had,  in  much  hearty  simplicity,  en- 
treated and  prevailed  upon  their  father  to  be  baptized  himself.  In 
Philadelphia  he  baptized  an  unmarried  woman,  25  years  old,  the 
daughter  of  Quaker  parents ;  this  was  done  in  public,  and  a  married 
woman  was  confirmed  at  the  same  time.  In  New  Hanover  he  baptized 
a  Quaker  and  his  four  children.  The  wife  of  this  man  had  received 
the  sacrament  of  baptism  on  New  Year,  1744.  After  the  baptism  of 
the  husband,  both  he  and  his  wife,  in  company  with  two  other  persons, 
were  admitted  to  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Supper ;  and  they,  with 
their  house,  are  living  as  it  becomes  Christian  to  live.  Finally,  not 
long  ago  he  baptized,  in  Providence,  a  German  of  good  social  standing 
with  his  five  children.®  This  man  had,  for  some  considerable  time, 
been  impressed  by  the  Word  of  God ;  yet  could  not  make  up  his  mind 
to  be  baptized,  because  he  had  counselled  with  flesh  and  blood.  At 
last,  however,  he  broke  through  these  restraining  bonds,  and  overcame 
all  hindrances.  In  regard  to  all  these  cases  we  believe  that  they  were 
actuated  by  good  motives ;  for  in  this  free  country  they  could  not  ex- 
pect to  enjoy  any  temporal  gain  or  advantage,  or  to  acquire  any  special 
honor  or  respectability,  by  the  fact  that  they  are  bajDtized.  In  addition 
to  these  persons  thus  restored  to  the  communion  of  the  Evangelical 
Church,  the  Lord  Jesus  has  caused  His  holy  Word  to  work  with 
(34)  such  power  upon  the  hearts  of  many  others,  that  there  is  hope 
that  the  fruit  will  remain  unto  eternal  life.  Some  of  them,  in- 
deed, have  already  departed  in  the  peace  of  the  Lord. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  cases,  Muhlenberg  says  that  he  might 
give  other  indications  of  good  results ;  but  he  thinks  that  it  may  be 
better  to  wait  so  as  to  ascertain  more  accurately  Avhether  they  are  sub- 


112  CONTINUATION    OF    BRIEF    REPORT    CONCERNING 

staiitial  and  enduring.  Meanwhile  the  brief  report  we  thus  furnish 
may  well  arouse  those  who  take  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  to 
thank  God  with  their  Avhole  hearts,  for  the  reason  that  He  has  caused 
His  Word,  in  some  cases  at  least,  to  prosper  in  the  thing  whereto  He 
hath  sent  it.  May  He  continue  His  blessing  upon  the  w  ork,  so  that 
His  praise  and  His  salvation  may  be  spread  abroad. 

9.  The  fourth  point  specified  in  the  beginning  of  the  present  writing 
yet  remains.  It  relates  to  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  build- 
ing of  the  churches.  We  are  specially  bound  to  explain  these  matters, 
because,  as  already  stated,  it  is  to  the  building  of  the  churches  that 
the  balance  of  the  money  collected  in  Germany  has  to  be  applied,  after 
the  traveling  expenses  of  the  several  pastors  and  assistants  have  been 
defrayed ;  and  the  main  object  of  this  Report  is,  whilst  giving  thanks 
to  God,  to  inform  our  friends  and  worthy  benefactors  to  what  uses  their 
charitable  gifts  have  been  devoted.  It  may  be  remembered,  as  was 
stated  in  the  short  Report  of  last  year,  that  the  building  of  a  large 
church  in  Philadelphia  had  been  begun,  as  also  of  a  smaller  one  in 
Providence,  and  that  both  structures  had  been  advanced  so  far  as  that 
they  could  be  used  by  the  congregations  for  Divine  Worship,  although 
neither  of  them  was,  as  yet,  finished.  The  cost  of  the  church  in  Phila- 
delphia, according  to  a  careful  calculation,  would  be  1000  pounds  ster- 
ling or  5500  Rix  dollars,  and  the  cost  of  the  church  in  Providence 
would  be  200  pounds  sterling  or  1100  Rix  dollars;  and,  in  addition  to 
these  tAVO  buildings,  a  school-house  had  to  be  erected  at  New  Hanover, 
where  a  church  already  stood,  although,  as  yet,  in  an  unfinished  state. 

Many  persons  might  possibly  have  considered  the  building  of  these 
churches  unnecessary,  or  thought  that  the  undertaking  was  too  rash 
and  premature,  or  that  the  style  and  appointments  were  too  expensive. 
In  view  of  such  objections  Pastor  Muhlenberg  has  reported,  that  at 
public  worship  in  the  barn  at  Providence,  the  congregation  had  to  suf- 
fer a  great  many  inconveniences ;  that  the  barn  itself  was  too  small, 
the  congregation  increasing  so  much,  that  on  occasions  of  Divine  ser- 
vice many  persons  had  to  stand  out  under  the  open  heavens,  ex- 
(35)  posed  to  all  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances, no  blame  can  attach  to  that  congregation  for  under- 
taking to  build  a  church. 

A  similar  necessity  pressed  upon  the  congregation  in  Philadelphia. 
The  old  meeting  house,  for  which  the  Lutherans  paid  rent,  was  too 
small ;  and  besides  this,  they  were  annoyed  through  a  suit  at  law  with 
certain  parties  who  claimed  the  building.  Moreover,  although  the 
German  Lutherans  had,  at  first,  by  special  favor,  obtained  permission 


CERTAIN    EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES    IN    AMERICA.  113 

to  hold  their  public  worship  in  the  Swedish^  Lutheran  Church,  a 
privilege  which  was  accorded  them  until  their  own  church  should  be 
prepared  for  use,  nevertheless,  as  has  been  stated  in  our  former  Report, 
at  the  time  when  the  German  church  Avas  in  such  an  advanced  state 
that  the  congregation  could  begin  to  occupy  it,  the  long  expected 
Swedish  pastor  arrived.®  So,  the  Swedes,  intending  to  use  their 
church  themselves,  could  no  longer  accommodate  the  Germans.  This 
accommodation  was  rendered  even  more  difficult,  at  that  season  of  the 
year,  by  the  advancing  shortness  of  the  days. 

These  circumstances  are  quite  enough  to  prove  that  the  building 
of  this  church  was  not  a  rash  and  hasty  undertaking.  Much  rather 
should  we  recognize  it  as  an  act  of  Divine  Providence,  in  order  that 
the  church  might  be  finished  at  the  right  time.  Otherwise  the  public 
worship  must  have  been  suspended  for  a  season,  if  not  abandoned  alto- 
gether ;  there  being  no  place  obtainable  where  the  whole  congregation 
could  assemble  for  religious  purposes. 

10.  That  the  number  of  members  in  this  congregation  is  quite  con- 
siderable we  learn  from  a  letter  of  Pastor  Brunnholz,  dated  April  23d, 
1745,  and  which  we  have  received  since  we  begun  to  write  this  present 
Report.  In  this  letter  he  says  that  the  church  in  Philadelphia  is 
somewhat  large  in  its  dimensions ;  but,  on  Sundays  it  is  always  com- 
pletely filled  up ;  and  that  people  who  had  formerly  separated  them- 
selves from  the  Church  now  keep  on  coming  back  again.  As  an  ex- 
ample of  this,  he  mentions  the  case  of  a  man  now  connected  with  the 
congregation  in  Germantown.  This  man  called  upon  him  and  said 
that  he  had  not  been  in  church  for  18  years ;  but  he  wished  to  return 
again  and  was  anxious  to  have  his  five  children,  already  well  grown, 
baptized. 

In  view  of  these  facts  then,  we  must  admit  that  the  dimensions 
agreed  upon  were  not  too  large.  At  the  same  time  we  must  approve 
of  the  opinion  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  already  presented  in  our 
(36)  Report,  that  is,  that  the  material  used  in  a  church  of  such  a  size 
could  not  be  wood  or  lumber.  True,  he  had  himself,  at  first,  ad- 
vised the  building  of  a  frame  church,  so  as  to  finish  it  at  small  expense. 
But  as  such  a  frame  structure  would  have  cost  above  1000  Rix  dollars 
and  as  the  vestry  stated  that  it  could  not  last  long  on  account  of  the  li- 
ability to  decay,  which  specially  belongs  to  the  timber  of  that  country, 
for  which  reason  certain  members  refused  to  contribute  anything  to- 
wards the  building  of  a  frame  church,  it  had  to  be  resolved  and  settled, 
that  the  church  should  be  built  of  stone  and  that  the  people  should 
trust  in  the  Lord  to  supply  them  with  the  necessary  amount  of  money. 
8 


114  COXTIXUATIOX    OF    BRIEF    REPORT    CONCERNING 

To  repeat  here  all  the  statements  we  have  received  upon  this  subject, 
would  make  our  account  too  tedious ;  and  in  the  mean  time,  the  items 
that  Ave  have  given  are  quite  sufficient,  we  believe,  to  satisfy  our  read- 
ers, that  the  building  of  the  church  was  absolutely  necessary.  In  a 
word,  it  is  very  plain  that  Pastor  Muhlenberg  and  the  vestry  of  the 
church  would  never  have  launched  out  into  such  extensive  and  hazard- 
ous undertakings  if  they  had  not  been  constrained  to  do  so  by  stern 
necessity. 

11.  It  was  in  confident  reliance  upon  the  help  and  favor  of  the  Lord 
that  they  entered  upon  the  work ;  and  the  Lord  has,  so  far,  not  only 
delivered  them  from  shame,  but  also  given  them  many  encouraging 
tokens  of  His  approbation.  Such  tokens  they  recognize  in  the  fact, 
that  not  only  is  the  church  at  Providence  now  completely  finished  but 
the  church  in  Philadelphia  also  will  be  prepared,  in  a  short  time,  for 
the  public  worship  of  the  congregation.  Further,  the  Lord  has  favored 
them  in  meeting  the  expenses,  so  that  of  the  whole  cost  only  about  400 
pounds  sterling  or  2200  Rix  dollars  will  remain  as  a  debt  upon  the 
church  at  Philadelphia;  and  50  pounds  sterling  or  275  Rix  dollars, 
upon  the  church  in  Providence.  LTpon  these  sums  an  annual  interest 
also,  must  be  paid.  They  discern  the  Divine  favor  further  in  the  fact, 
that  whilst  the  congregations,  as  stated  in  our  former  report,  had  ex- 
erted their  zeal  and  libera-lity  to  the  very  utmost,  the  congregation  in 
Philadelphia  especially,  having  raised  200  pounds  sterling  even  before 
the  building  was  begun,  several  neighboring  congregations  also  sent  them 
generous  contributions.  In  addition  to  this  they  have  received 
(37)  the  following  contributions:  200  pounds  sterling,  of  the  sum  for- 
merly collected  in  Europe  for  Pennsylvania ;  40  pounds  sterling, 
or  220  Rix  dollars,  collected  in  the  German  Lutheran  congregation 
in  London,  and  547  Rix  dollars  from  Germany,  as  we  have  already 
specified.  To  all  this  must  be  added  30  pounds  sterling,  or  165  Rix 
dollars,  forwarded  to  Pennsylvania  at  the  beginning  of  this  year,  the 
contribution  of  benevolent  friend  towards  the  building  of  the  churches ; 
and  finally,  150  Rix  dollars,  which  shall  be  transmitted  to  them  in  a 
very  short  time. 

12.  The  hope  is  fondly  cherished  that  the  Divine  Favor  wdll  still 
abide  upon  them,  so  that  these  poor  German  congregations  and  their 
pastors  may  continue  to  flourish,  and  that  the  spiritual  refreshing 
which  has  visited  them  may  not  only  remain  with  them,  but  also  be 
spread  abroad,  and  all  around  them.  There  are  good  reasons  for  in- 
dulging such  a  blessed  hope.  Indeed  we  have  a  very  positive  confi- 
dence that  God,  by  His  Grace,  will  so  move  the  hearts  of  some  Christ- 


CERTAIN    EVANGELICAL   CHURCHES   IN   AMERICA.  115 

ian  people,  that  they  shall  willingly  devote  a  portion  of  the  means 
which  He,  froni  whom  all  good  gifts  come,  has  placed  in  their  hands, 
to  the  glory  of  His  name  in  promoting  the  great  salvation  in  these 
churches.  Truly,  we  have  reason  to  thank  God  because  He  has  pros- 
pered the  work  so  far,  that  even  those  persons,  who  supposed  that  be- 
fore the  church  could  be  finished.  Pastor  Muhlenberg  and  the  vestry 
would  be  cast  into  prison  for  debt,  or  would  be  compelled  to  run  off, 
have  been  convinced  that  the  Hand  of  God  is  in  the  work.  Yet,  not- 
withstanding all  this  the  debts  that  still  remain  are  no  light  burden 
upon  the  congregations,  particularly  because  in  the  church  in  Phila- 
delphia, in  addition  to  the  payment  of  annual  interest  upon  the  debt, 
they  have  yet  to  provide  sash  and  glazing  for  the  windows,  and  furnish 
the  inside  with  pews.  Of  course,  with  such  a  heavy  burden  upon  them 
the  congregations  will  find  it  very  hard  to  support  their  pastors  and 
teachers,  for  most  of  the  members  are  themselves  in  straitened  cir- 
cumstances, and  have  already  contributed  so  liberally  to  the  building 
of  the  church. 

It  is  proper  to  state  in  this  place,  that  at  the  beginning,  Pastor  Muh- 
lenberg was  duly  authorized  to  draw  his  own  salary  from  the  moneys 
regularly  collected  in  Europe,  in  case  the  congregations  themselves 
should  not  furnish  what  was  necessary  for  his  support.  He  also  in- 
formed us  that  he  would  avail  himself  of  this  permission  ;  and  use 
(38)  a  portion  of  the  200  pounds  sterling  above  referred  to,  for  his  own 
purposes  as  payment  of  his  salary ;  because  in  the  first  years  of  his 
pastoral  work,  the  congregations  gave  him  hardly  anything  at  all,  and 
he  had  unfortunately  lost  two  horses  in  consequence  of  long  and  fre- 
quent journeyings;  which  also,  put  him  to  considerable  extra  exjDense 
from  the  Avear  and  tear  of  clothing.  But  after  all,  seeing  how  heavily 
the  congregations  were  strained  by  the  building  of  the  churches  and 
the  school-houses,  he  declined  to  appropriate  any  of  the  money  to  his 
own  use,  passed  it  all  over  to  the  benefit  of  the  churches,  and  hoped 
that  the  Lord,  in  loving  kindness,  would  supply  his  own  wants  by  some 
other  means. 

13.  It  remains  for  us  to  add  a  few  more  items  taken  from  the  last 
letter  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz  above  referred  to.  He  says  that  Pastor 
Muhlenberg,  the  two  teachers  and  himself  are  all  in  good  health ;  and 
that  he,  by  no  means,  regrets  his  having  accepted  the  call  to  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  although  he  feels  the  weight  and  responsibility  of  his  office,  and 
is  deeply  conscious  of  his  own  insufficiency  and  unworthiness.  He  is 
engaged,  every  day,  in  hunting  up  the  members  of  the  flock  committed 
to  his  care,  declaring  to  them  the  counsel  of  God  concerning  their  sal- 


116  CONTINUATION    OF    BRIEF    REPORT    CONCERNING 

vation,  both  in  public  and  in  private.  The  poAver  of  the  Gospel  is 
witnessed  by  the  experience  of  many  persons  who  often  call  upon  him, 
and  afford  him  an  opportunity  to  notice  whether  they  fall  back,  or 
whether  they  grow  in  grace ;  and  indeed  it  is  necessary  to  keep  a  care- 
ful watch  over  them,  on  account  of  the  many  dangers  and  temptations 
that  beset  them  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left.  Generally  upon 
occasions  of  public  preaching  he  has  something  of  a  mixed  mass  be- 
fore him,^  representing  all  varieties  of  religious  notions;  but  at  such 
times  he  is  very  careful  to  present  the  Divine  truth  that  is  regularly 
taught  by  the  text,  believing,  that  in  the  light  of  this  truth,  the  oppos- 
ing error  will  be  at  once  revealed  and  reproved.  For  the  sake  of  the 
members  of  his  own  flock  he,  sometimes,  introduces  into  his  sermons, 
testimonies  from  the  writings  of  Luther  himself,  in  order  that  they 
may  see  that  he  too,  maintains  the  doctrine  of  the  Divine  Word  even 
as  Luther  taught  it. 

The  school  in  Philadelphia  is  still  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Schaum, 
and  continues  to  increase  in  numbers.  He  too  enjoys  the  presence 
and  the  help  of  God  in  his  work,  and  occasionally  preaches  for  Pastor 
Brunnholtz.  In  New  Hanover  Mr.  Kurtz  has  a  large  school  that 
engages  his  constant  attention,  and  the  congregation  is  much  pleased 
with  his  Avork.  When  Pastor  Brunnholtz  is  in  Philadelphia  on 
(39)  Sunday  he  ahvays  preaches  twice  on  that  day.  Before  the  wri- 
ting of  his  last  letter  he  had  spent  two  AAeeks  in  Providence  and 
New  Hanover,  and  preached  once  in  each  congregation,  Muhlenberg 
having  been  in  charge  of  the  church  in  Philadelphia  for  the  same 
time.  During  these  two  weeks  Brunnholtz  visited  a  place  about  ten 
miles  distant  from  New  Hanover,  called  Ohley,  where,  finding  the 
Lutheran  congregation  of  that  place  assembled  in  a  dwelling-house,  he 
preached  to  them  also.  The  season  of  Lent,  however,  he  spent  alto- 
gether in  the  city,  instructing  the  young  people  and  preparing  them 
for  the  Holy  Supper. 

About  a  week  before  his  last  letter  to  us  was  sent  off,  in  answer  to  a 
very  urgent  solicitation,  he  went  to  Cohanzy,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Delaware  and  about  36  miles  distant  from  Philadelphia,  and  preached 
to  the  Lutheran  congregation  there  that  had  been  long  neglected. 
They  have  a  church  but  no  pastor,  and  are  not  able  to  support  one. 
However,  they  had  secured  the  services  of  a  school-master  and  fur- 
nished him  with  fL  copy  of  Prof.  Francke's  Postills,!^,  out  of  which  he 
might  read  them  a  sermon  every  Sunday.  Invitations  to  visit  many 
other  places  were  addressed  to  the  pastors,  but  as  they  had  their  own 
congregations,  and  felt  themselves  bound  to  devote  their  whole  time 


CERTAIN    EVANGELICAL    CHURCHES    IN    AMERICA.  117 

mainly  to  their  own  Avork,  so  thiit  they  might  preach  the  Word  in  truth 
and  in  power,  they  were  not  able  at  all  times  to  yield  to  these  invita- 
tions, willing  as  they  would  otherwise  have  been  to  do  so.  Yet  they 
could  not  always  refuse,  but  readily  went  whenever  it  was  possible  for 
them.  The  people  who  approached  them  with  these  solicitations  gen- 
erally lived  in  thinly  populated  regions,  for  wdiich  reason  and  S})ecially 
because,  like  most  of  the  Germans  in  the  country,  they 'are  poor  in  this 
world's  goods,  upon  their  first  arrival  they  cannot  well  support  a  pastor. 
May  the  Lord  in  His  mercy  regard  these  congregations  that  are  yet 
unprovided  for! 

14.  80  far  then  we  have  endeavored  to  inform  our  Christian  readers 
of  the  efforts  that  have  been  made  to  furnish  the  Lutheran  churches  in 
America  with  the  Divine  ^Means  of  Grace,  and  of  the  blessings  with' 
which  the  Lord  has  been  pleased  to  attend  these  efforts.  Such  facts 
have  no  importance  whatever  in  the  estimation  of  the  world,  but  who- 
ever remembers  in  what  a  state  of  destitution  these  congregations 
(40)  have  been,  and  considers  into  what  a  sad  decline  they  must  have 
fallen  if  the  Lord  had  not  raised  up  help  for  them  in  good  time, 
will  very  readily  acknowledge  that  the  whole  history  is  simply  a 
special  intervention  of  God's  mercy.  So  it  has  been  thought  that  a 
Report,  short  yet  somewhat  minute,  of  the  progress  of  the  Divine  bless- 
ing recently  bestowed  upon  the  congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  as  it  is 
described  in  the  letters  of  the  pastors  and  teachers,  would  be  acceptable 
to  the  Christian  reader.  It  is  hoped  also  that  the  account  here  given 
will  stir  him  up  to  thank  God  for  the  blessings  already  bestowed  and 
fervently  to  implore  a  continuance  of  His  favor.  Now,  to  the  Father 
of  Mercies  whose  gracious  will  it  is  that  no  one  should  perish,  but  that 
all  should  come  to  the  knowledge  and  the  belief  of  the  truth,  and  so 
obtain  eternal  life,  let  devout  thanks  be  offered,  because  in  the  fullness 
of  His  compassion  He  has  turned  towards  these  congregations  which 
had  long  been  like  lost  sheep  without  a  shepherd,  and  already  done  for 
them  more  even  than  we  could  at  first  have  thought  or  asked  for. 
May  He  keep  all  who  have  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  Word  and  the 
voice  of  the  Good  Shepherd  from  despising  His  grace,  and  mercifully 
grant  that  by  a  genuine  repentance  they  may  turn  from  the  error  of 
their  Avays,  and  as  recovered  sheep  come  back  to  the  fold  of  the  Shep- 
herd and  Bishop  of  Souls.  To  this  end  may  He  ever  continue  to  add 
new  blessings  to  the  preaching  of  His  Word  in  these  distant  regions, 
and  ever  renew  the  strength  of  His  servants  in  their  great  work  for 
the  glory  of  His  Name  and  of  His  Saving  Love,  through  Jesus  Christ, 
Amen ! 


118       NOTES    ON    THE    CONTINUATION    (fIRST)    OF    BRIEF    REPORT. 

NOTES  ON  THE  CONTINUATION  (FIRST) 
OF  THE  BRIEF  REPORT. 

^  This  refers  to  the  communications  which,  having  been  found  in  the  Archives 
at  Halle,  are  presented  in  the  Appendix  to  this  Continuation. 

2  In  those  days,  even  apart  from  the  prevailing  perils  of  pirates,  a  voyage  upon 
the  high  seas  wa^  not  without  danger.  England,  under  George  II,  was  then  at 
Avar  with  Spain  and  France ;  and  the  men-of-war  of  both  nations  threatened  the 
ca})ture  of  English  vessels.  For  this  reason  they  sought  to  sail  under  a  secure 
convoy.  Upon  this  subject  Pastor  Handschlh  gives  us  further  information. 
(See  3d  Continuation,  with  regard  to  political  afikirs  as  then  existing.  See  3d 
Continuation,  note  on  section  3d.) 

3  This  was  Mr.  Henry  Schleydorn.  (See  Appendix  to  this  Continuation.) 
We  meet  him  again,  and  upon  his  death-bed.  (See  Pastor  Handschuh's  letter  of 
Oct.  2d,  1759,  in  9th  Continuation.)  He  was  an  elder  of  the  German  congrega- 
tion, and  together  with  the  Swedish  merchant,  Peter  Kock,  (who  died  1749), 
had  endeavored  to  bring  about  a  union  between  the  Swedes  and  the  Germans  in 
their  church  interests.  (See  Acrelius'  Hist.,  p.  245.)  He  had  previously  been 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  in  New  York.  (See  Halle.  Nachr.,  p. 
363.     Concerning  his  death,  see  p.  751,  etc.) 

*  In  the  Kecord  of  Providence  congregation,  on  page  8,  is  the  following:  "On 
the  third  Sunday  after  Epiphany,  1745,  I,  Peter  Brunnholtz,  being  regularly  or- 
dained and  called  by  the  Rev.  Court  Chaplain  Ziegenhagen,  in  London,  and  duly 
commissioned  as  second  pastor  of  the  Evang.  Lutheran  congregations  in  Philadel- 
phia, Germantown,  New  Providence  and  New  Hanover,  and  colleague  of  the  very 
Pev.  Henry  Melehior  Muhlenberg,  preached  my  introductory  sermon,  in  this 
Providence  congregation,  upon  the  Gospel  lesson  for  this  day."  This  lesson  was 
Matt.  8 :  1-13 — the  centurion  at  Capernaum. 

^  (See  2d  Continuation,  section  7  and  the  note  on  section  19  of  the  Brief  Re- 
port.) Even  Muhlenberg,  noble  as  he  was,  had  to  go  "through  honor  and  dis- 
honor, through  evil  rej)ort  and  good  report,"  2  Cor.  6 :  8.  (See  the  singular  letter 
in  the  Appendix  to  this  Continuation.)  In  2d  Continuation,  section  7,  John 
Conr.  Andrese,  of  whom  we  shall  hear  again,  is  mentioned  as  slanderer-in-chief. 
The  other  person  there  referred  to  is  the  notorious  Yal.  Kraft,  of  whom  we  have 
heard  already  ''Brief  Report,  section  19). 

*  In  the  Church  Record  is  the  following:  "Feb.  12th,  1745,  Nicolas  Koester 
was  baptized  at  New  Providence  in  the  presence  of  his  wife  and  his  mother-in-law, 
Anna  E.  Hopp,  and  his  wife's  sister,  Johanna  Chr.  Hopp."  Then  the  baptism  of 
his  children.  Christian,  born  Aug.  21st,  1734;  John,  born  July  18th,  1736; 
Elizabeth,  born  Aug.  20th,  1739;  George,  born  Aug.  21st,  1741 ;  Samuel,  born 
Nov.  27th,  1744.  Appended  to  the  above  is  the  following:  "Oct.  17th,  1746, 
Nicolas  Koester's  child  was  baptized  and  named  Paul,  born  Sept.  7th ;  of  the 
same  mother  as  were  all  the  other  children,  her  name  being  Susanna  Margar- 
ETTA.     Witnesses  were  the  above-named  mother  and  sister." 

'^  The  Blockhouse  or  Fort,  in  Avhich  the  Swedes  held  their  religious  services  in 
the  preceeding  century,  must  have  presented  a  fine  churchly  appearance  about 
1700.     (See  Dr.  C.  W.  Sch^ffer's  Early  History,  etc.,  pp.  24,  25.    Also  note  on 


NOTES    ON    THE    CONTINUATION    (fIRST)    OF    BRIEF    REPORT.       119 

section  18,  Brief  Report.)  In  this  church,  so  well  known  as  "Gloria  Dei,"  the 
services  were  conducted,  at  least  partly,  in  the  Swedish  language,  even  into  the 
present  century.  The  last  pastor  who  had  been  sent  over  from  Sweden,  Dr. 
Nicolas  Collin,  preached,  at  least  once  a  month,  in  the  Swedish  language  as 
late  as  in  1813.  Dr.  Collin  came  from  Upsala,  arriving  in  1771.  He  died  in 
1831.  (See  Clay's  Annals  of  the  Swedes,  etc.,  Philadelphia,  1835.  Pa.  Magaz.  of 
Hist,  and  Biogr.,  by  Hist.  Soc.  of  Pa.,  Vol.  I,  p.  154.) ,  Also,  at  the  present  time 
there  is  another  small  Swedish  congregation  organized  in  Philadelphia,  which 
holds  its  services  every  Sunday  p.m.  in  ZiON,  the  German  Evang.  Lutheran 
Church  in  Franklin  St.  below  Vine  St.  This  congregation  is  now  negotiating 
with  a  view  of  purchasing  a  church  for  itself,  in  Ninth  St.,  North  of  Noble  St. 
The  "Gloria  Dei,"  formerly  called  Wicaco,  has  long  since  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  Episcopal  denomination.  This  is  easily  accounted  for ;  since,  an  Act  passed 
Sept.  10th,  1787,  supplementary  to  the  charter  of  the  United  Swedish  Lutheran 
congregations  of  Wicaco,  Kingsessing  and  Upper  Merion,  granted  Sept.  25th, 
1785,  declares,  in  reference  to  the  election  of  a  "rector"  or  pastor,  "that  such 
rector  and  other  ministers  shall  be  in  the  ministry  of  the  Lutheran  or  Episcopal 
Churches,  and  hold  their  faith  in  the  doctrine  of  the  same." 

8  This  was  Gabriel  Naesman,  of  Gestricia,  whom  the  Archbishop  and  Con- 
sistory of  Upsala  appointed  for  the  service  of  the  Church  in  America,  in  company 
with  another  named  Hedstrand,  who,  however,  never  came  over.  They  were 
both  ordained  in  May,  1742,  in  the  Cathedral  at  Upsala.  Naesman  arrived  in 
Philadelphia,  Oct.  20th,  1743.  (See  Acrelius'  Hist.,  etc.,  p.  241,  etc.  Also  3d 
Continuation,  section  12.) 

^  People  who  belong  to  divers  Churches  or  Confessions.  It  was  the  more  im- 
portant to  give  prominence  to  the  fact,  that  the  doctrine  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
was  in  harmony  with  the  doctrine  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  The  reverse  of  this  is, 
to  belittle  the  matter  in  the  pulpit  and  elsewhere,  and  to  represent  the  Lutheran 
Church  as  teaching  only  what  the  Presbyterians,  the  Methodists  and  the  other 
parties  teach.     This  is  a  misrepresentation  of  the  truth. 

I  '^  PosTiLS,  post  ilia,  viz.,  verba  textus,  i.  e.,  following  the  order  of  the  text,— 
a  medieval  Latin  definition  of  a  continuous  exposition  of  Holy  Scripture.  In 
later  times  the  word  was  applied  to  sermons  and  sermon-books.  The  Francke 
referred  to  is  August  Herman,  the  founder  of  the  institutions  at  Halle.  Some 
of  his  works  were  published  during  his  lifetime;  others  afterwards.  Sermons  and 
Tracts,  Halle,  1723;  Sermons  from  Advent  till  Easter,  1738;  Catechetical  Ser- 
mons, 1758 ;  Memorial  and  Funeral  Sermons,  1723 ;  Sermons  on  the  Gospels  for 
Sundays,  Festivals  and  Apostles'  Days,  1740 ;  a  second  collection,  1746 ;  Sermons 
on  the  Epistles,  1741 ;  Methodus  studii  theologici,  etc.,  Halle,  1723 ;  Idea  studiosi 
theologici,  1723 ;  Monita  pastoralia,  1712,  1717 ;  Collegium  pastorale,  1741,  1748. 

I I  We  deeply  regret  that,  whilst  handling  this  Continuation  and  the  first  Brief 
Report,  we  have  been  able  to  furnish  only  such  short  statements  as  are  contained 
in  the  extracts  that  have  been  supplied  to  us  out  of  the  letters  that  had  been 
written  from  Pennsylvania,  instead  of  our  having  the  letters  themselves  placed  in 
our  hands.  We  supply  this  deficiency,  however,  in  part,  by  presenting  in  an  Ap- 
pendix what  we  have  obtained  from  the  Archives  at  Halle. 


120  APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTINUATIOX. 

APPENDIX  TO  FIRST  CONTINUATION. 


EXTRACTS 

Concerning  the  Call  of  the  Catechists  Schaum  and  Kurtz,  and  their  departure 

to  Pennsylvania  in  the  year  1744 ;  with  a  Journal  of  the  voyage  and  of 

their  earlier  oiScial  labors  from  March  13th,  1744,  till  July  11th,  1745. 

I. 

Letter  of  G.  A.  Francke  to  Mr.  von  Gensau  of  Farrenstadt,  January 
29th,  1744: 

"  As  the  Lord  has  lately  given  us  such  a  call  to  His  service  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  as  more  laborers  are  absolutely  required  in  this  extensive 
field,  if  this  man,  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  is  not  to  be  utterly  crushed  by 
his  burdens,  I  have  thus  far  been  taking  great  pains  in  compliance 
Avith  his  earnest  solicitations  which  have  also  been  strongly  endorsed  in 
letters  from  England,  to  discover  some  person  who  would  be  fitted  for 
the  work.  The  purpose  is  to  appoint  this  person  as  second  pastor  and 
in  addition  to  him  to  engage  a  Catechist,  which  position  may  be  filled 
by  a  student  of  theology  and  to  send  them  off  together.  To  this  day  I 
have  been  wrestling  with  God  in  prayer,  that  He  Himself  would  raise 
up  for  the  work  a  man  after  His  own  heart.  Several  persons  to  whom 
the  call  was  extended  have  declined  it,  from  which  circumstance  I 
have  concluded  that  these  persons  were  not  called  of  God  to  the  work, 
and  so  I  can  do  nothing  more  than  Avatch  the  movements  of  the  Lord 
and  strive  to  follow  them  in  all  sincerity.  At  the  very  first,  however, 
not  only  was  I  myself  strongly  drawn  towards  Mr.  Brunnholtz,  but 
many  other  excellent  friends  favored  his  appointment  to  this  work. 
Accordingly,  I  have  undertaken  to  follow  up  these  indications,  and  so 
I  respectfully  request  your  Excellency  to  consider  whether  you  can 
discern  any  Divine  intimations  in  these  circumstances,  and  then  to 
decide,  in  view  of  the  great  good  that  may  be  done  in  advancing  the 
Divine  glory  and  the  salvation  of  many  souls,  wdiether  you  would  be 
willing  to  release  Mr.  Brunnholtz  from  his  present  official  obligations 
in  case  he  should  actually  accept  the  call  that  is  offered  to  him?  In 
this  event  I  humbly  request  your  Excellency  to  give  these  reports  of 
Pastor  Muhlenberg's  to  Mr.  Brunnholtz  for  his  own  perusal,  and  to 
ascertain  from  him  himself  whether  he  is  willing  to  go  to  the  aid  of 
our  brother  in  Pennsylvania  and  help  him  to  draw  in'the  net?  If  he 
is  willing  to  do  so,  then  I  am  ready  as  soon  as  I  can  find  another  man 
who  may  be  acceptable  to  your  Excellency,  to  serve  you  by  filling  the 
position  thus  vacated  by  Mr.  Brunnholtz." 


II. 

Hartmann  von  Gensau,  Jr.,  answers  February  3d,  1744:  "Yesterday 
I  took  the  subject  into  consideration,  and  found  it  far  too  important  to 


APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION.  121 

allow  myself  to  attempt  to  hinder  it  in  any  way.  I  have  therefore 
submitted  the  proposition  to  Mr.  Brunnholtz,  also  given  him  your 
letter,  and  placed  the  Reports  from  Pennsylvania  in  his  hands.  1  can 
truthfully  assure  your  Keverence  that  although  I  am  sincerely  attached 
to  Mr.  Brunnholtz,  and  although  his  presence  here  is  very  necessary, 
specially  in  our  schools,  nevertheless  I  shall  have  pleasure  even  in 
releasing  him  from  his  duties  here  if  the  Lord  should  incline  his  heart 
to  accept  this  new  call  from  Pennsylvania.  At  present,  however,  I 
can  say  nothing  positive,  for  the  subject  itself  is  so  important  as  to 
demand  the  most  serious  consideration.  Mr.  Brunnholtz  himself  will 
most  probably  write  to  your  Reverence  in  a  few  days  and  inform  you 
as  to  his  own  conclusion.  Just  now  I  may  express  the  opinion  that 
although  Mr.  Brunnholtz  has  generally  the  appearance  of  a  healthy 
man,  nevertheless  he  is  of  delicate  constitution  ;  however,  the  Lord  can 
make  him  strong  and  vigorous.  I  enclose  ten  dollars  towards  the 
building  of  the  new  Lutheran  Church  in  Philadelphia.  I  embrace 
the  opportunity  to  contribute  a  mite.  May  the  Lord  not  only  prosper 
the  outward  building,  but  especially  advance  and  promote  the  spiritual 
buildino-  of  His  Grace  in  the  hearts  of  the  Lutherans  in  Pennsylvania." 


IIL 

Pastor  Brunnholtz  to  Pastor  Niemeyer  in  Halle,  February  29th, 
1744: 

"Having  just  now  heard  that  Mr.  Schiitze  proposes  to  send  a  mes- 
senger to  Halle,  I  pen  a  few  lines  in  haste  to  be  carried  by  him.  If 
you  still  live  in  communion  with  the  Lord  Jesus,  it  is  to  me  an  occa- 
sion of  heartfelt  joy;  you  may,  perhaps,  have  thought  that  I  have 
taken  a  long  time  to  come  to  a  conclusion  in  regard  to  the  matters  laid 
before  me,  "but  I  could  not  do  otherwise,  for  on  the  one  hand  I  have 
had  many  a  hard  struggle  in  my  own  mind,  and  on  the  other,  letters 
that  I  had  been  expecting  from  my  friends  at  home  have  been  delayed. 
Indeed,  I  have  not  even,  as  yet,  had  an  answer  from  my  father  and 
brothers.  But  as  the  Lord  has  helped  me  into  a  peaceful  state  of 
mind  and  enabled  me,  by  His  Grace,  to  ponder  the  matter,  not  m  view 
of  my  oAvn  strength,  but  in  view  of  His  abounding  Might,  and  as  I 
received  letters  yesterday  from  two  dear  friends  in  my  native  home, 
viz..  Pastor  Ulitsch  and  Pastor  Kail,  to  whose  impartial  judgment  I 
had  submitted  the  decision  of  the  whole  question,  in  which  letters  they 
declared  with  one  consent  that  they  recognized  the  work  as  the  work 
of  God,  etc.,  therefore  my  whole  heart  strongly  leans  towards  under- 
taking the  journey  to  America.  Letters  from  my  own  family,  even  if 
they  should  urge  a  contrarv  course,  cannot  now  influence  me  in  the 
least,  particularly  because  I'^know  beforehand  what  kind  of  arguments 
they  would  urge. 

''Accordingly,  I  beg  your  Reverence  to  present  my  most  humble 


122  APPENDIX    TO    FIRST   CONTINUATION. 

respects  to  the  beloved  father  Dr.  Francke,  and  to  inform  him  of  my 
fixed  conclusion  to  accept  the  call  in  the  name  of  Almighty  God  the 
Holy  Trinity,  and  especially  in  reliance  upon  His  strength.  If  the 
Lord  sustains  my  health  I  expect  to  go  to  Halle  next  Sunday  in  order 
that,  through  your  Reverence,  Dr.  Francke  may  be  duly  informed  of 
the  arrangement  of  my  afiairs  and  of  the  appointments  connected  with 
my  journey.  Many  circumstances  make  it  necessary  that  I  should 
spend  four  or  five  weeks  in  my  native  land.  I  hope  that  this  will  be 
granted,  in  which  case  my  journey  to  Hamburg  may  be  undertaken 
beforehand.  My  trust  is  that  you  have  already,  all  of  you,  remem- 
bered me  in  your  prayers ;  now,  however,  the  prayers  of  my  brethren 
and  fathers  ought  to  be  so  much  more  importunate.  God  bless  your 
whole  house! 

"  I  remain  ever  your  Reverence's  most  humble  servant, 

Peter  Brunnholtz." 

Another  letter  addressed  to  the  Inspector  of  the  Orphan  House, 
dated  Feb.  19th,  1744,  exhibits,  in  impressive  beauty,  the  thoughts  and 
purposes  of  his  heart. 


IV. 

G.  A.  Francke  to  his  Grace,  the  reigning  Count  of  Wernio^erode, 
March  18th,  1744. 

''As  the  Lord  has  already,  so  abundantly  blest  the  labors  of  Mr. 
Muhlenberg,  I  cherish  the  hope  that  He  will  so  favor  the  new  assist- 
ant whom  we  send  off",  that  his  w^ork  may  serve  greatly  to  promote  the 
Divine  glory.  It  is  however,  necessary,  that  the  preacher  should  be 
ordained  before  his  departure.  Hitherto,  in  the  case  of  those  persons 
whom  the  English  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  desired 
to  send  to  East  India  or  to  Ebenezer,  and  whose  ordination  had  to  be 
attended  to  by  us,  your  Grace  has  been  pleased  to  have  such  ordina- 
tion authorized  by  the  action  of  your  Grace's  regular  Consistory.  I 
therefore  humbly  express  the  hope,  that  as  there  appears  to  be  no 
doubt  about  the  fitness  of  the  aforesaid  candidate  Brunnholtz,  and  as, 
in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  said  Pennsylvania  congregations, 
I  propose  to  give  him  a  regular  call  to  serve  them  in  the  pastoral  office, 
your  Grace  may  be  pleased  to  accord  to  him  the  privileges  of  ordina- 
tion through  the  action  of  your  Grace's  Consistory.  As  soon  as  I  may 
be  informed  that  it  is  your  pleasure  to  grant 'this  request,  I  shall 
promptly  act  so  as  to  secure  the  attendance  of  Mr.  Brunnholtz  for  his 
ordination,  and  extend  to  him  a  regular  call  to  the  ministry  in  the 
name  of  the  aforesaid  Pennsylvania  congregations." 

Dr.  Francke  transmits  to  the  Count  a  letter  of  Muhlenberg's,  in  com- 
pany with  the  above. 

The  Count  replies,  March  20th,  1744. 


APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION.  123 

"  I  thank  God  that  He  has  enabled  you  to  secure  a  suitable  person 
for  Pennsylvania,  and  I  shall  very  gladly  have  the  ordination  of  Mr. 
Brunnholtz  attended  to  as  soon  as  your  Reverence  may  send  him 
hither." 

G.  A.  Francke  states,  in  a  letter  to  Count  Stolberg,  April,  2d,  1744, 
that  the  business  requires  prompt  action,  and  that  Brunnholtz  -will  be 
in  attendance,  immediately  after  Easter.  He  then  adds :  "  It  would  be 
my  sincere  desire  to  be  present  myself  and  to  render  my  humble  ser- 
vices on  this  occasion,  as  I  have  been  happy  to  do  at  the  ordination  of 
other  missionaries."     But  a  continued  state  of  ill-health  forbade  it. 

G.  A.  Francke  to  the  Superintendent  Lau,  of  Wernigerode — letter 
conveyed  by  Brunnholtz :  "  I  doubt  not  that  you  will  soon  discover,  in 
him,  the  spirit  of  Christ  and  a  sincere  desire  to  win  souls  for  Christ. 
In  this  you  will  rejoice,  and  unite  with  me  in  the  conviction,  that  there 
is  good  ground  to  hope,  already,  that  God  will  bless  his  entering  in 
among  his  future  congregations.  He  feels,  indeed,  somewhat  embar- 
rassed in  view  of  his  examination,  for  the  reason  that  he  has  not  had 
much  practice  in  speaking  the  Latin  language ;  but  he  is  well  grounded 
in  theology,  and  will  not  be  deficient  in  the  branches  that  belong  to  a 
scientific  training.  My  dear  brother,  be  so  good  as  to  bear  these  things 
somewhat  in  mind,  during  the  progress  of  the  examination. 

May  the  Lord  grant  Mr.  Brunnholtz  an  abundant  portion  of  His 
spirit  and  grace;  and  not  only  bless  his  ordination,  but  also  use  his  ser- 
vices largely  for  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  His  Kingdom  in 
America." 


V. 

After  several  letters  of  recommendation  addressed  to  Mr.  Esaias 
Culemann,  merchant ;  Secretary  Waiz,  in  Hamburg ;  and  specially  to 
Madame  von  Muenchhausen,  in  Hannover,  the  lady  who,  (Hall.  Nachr. 
p.  24)  had  transmitted  547  dollars  to  England.  "In  my  former  letter 
I  have  respectfully  reported  to  your  Excellency,  that  the  Lord  has  pro- 
vided an  assistant' for  Muhlenberg,  and  that  it  is  Mr.  Brunnholtz's  ear- 
nest desire  to  wait  upon  your  Excellency.  Now,  as  you  have  been 
pleased  to  take  such  a  deep  interest  in  this  work,  I  have  been  quite 
willing  to  encourage  him  to  make  the  short  journey  to  AVernigerode  in 
the  expectation  that  he  would  derive  special  refreshment  and  encour- 
agement from  your  Excellency." 

Here  follows  the  call  to  Pennsylvania,  given  to  Mr.  Peter  Brunn- 
holtz, Cand.  TheoL,  of  Holstein.  We  furnish  it  as  the  model  for  all 
subsequent  calls — as  also  the  ordination  vow  made  at  Wernigerode. 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity." 

"  Whereas,  the  anxious  desires  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congre- 
gations in  Pennsylvania,  and  specially  in  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover 
and  Providence,  so  long  expressed,  have,  at  last,  through  the  mercy  of 


124  APPENDIX   TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION. 

God,  been  gratified  by  the  calling  of  the  reverend  and  learned  Henry 
Melchior  Muhlenberg  as  their  Evangelical  pastor,  and  by  his  regular 
entering  upon  his  work;  and,  whereas,  the  said  Pastor  Muhlenberg, 
from  the  beginning  until  the  present  time,  has  been  over-burdened  by 
the  too  oppressive  labors  of  his  ever  widening  sphere  of  action,  and 
therefore  stands  in  the  greatest  need  of  an  assistant ;  and  the  more  so, 
because  another  congregation,  to-wit,  the  one  m  Germantown,  has  been 
added  to  those  named  above;  and  whereas,  I  the  undersigned  have, 
with  the  full  approbation  and  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  the  elders 
and  deacons  of  the  said  congregations,  been  requested  and  empowered 
to  seek  out  a  candidate  of  theology  to  become  a  co-laborer  and  helper 
in  this  work,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  said  elders  and  deacons,  to  extend 
to  him  a  regular  call  to  the  office  of  pastor  in  the  said  Evangelical 
Lutheran  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover,  Providence 
and  Germantown. 

Therefore,  humbly  following  as  God  has  led  me,  I  have  selected  Mr. 
Peter  Brunnholtz,  a  native  of  Holstein  in  Denmark,  whose  fine  ex- 
perience and  success  both  as  preacher  and  catechist  are  well  known, 
and  by  the  authority  of  the  said  elders  and  deacons,  I  have  given  him 
a  regular  call,  in  the  name  of  God,  to  the  office  of  teacher  and  preacher 
in  the  said  congregations ;  and  the  said  JNIr.  Brunnholtz  will  repair  to 
Pennsylvania  and  to  the  said  congregations  as  expeditiously  as  possi- 
ble, there  to  teach  the  Word  of  God  in  public  and  in  private,  pure  and 
incorrupt,  according  to  the  rule  and  guidance  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
and  also  of  the  Symbolical  Books  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church ; 
to  administer  the  Holy  Sacraments,  to  wit.  Baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper,  as  they  were  instituted  by  Christ;  to  preach  forgiveness  to  the 
penitent  in  the  name  and  according  to  the  command  of  Jesus  Christ ; 
to  publish  to  the  impenitent,  who  continue  in  their  security  and  persist 
in  their  ungodliness,  the  righteous  wrath  and  judgment  of  Almighty 
God ;  to  instruct  the  old  and  the  young  in  the  Catechism ;  and  faith- 
fiilly,  freely  and  without  holding  back,  to  do  everything  that  properly 
belongs  to  the  office  of  an  Evangelical  teacher,  and  to  the  faithful 
administration  of  the  same.  And  the  said  Peter  Brunnholtz  has  ac- 
cepted this  call,  in  the  name  of  God,  and  solemnly  bound  himself  to 
obey  it. 

In  testimony  of  this  his  regular  call  to  the  office  of  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel  in  the  aforesaid  congregations,  and  by  virtue  of  the  authority 
given  to  me,  I  place  this  present  written  vocation  in  his  hands,  signed 
with  my  own  name,  and  with  my  own  seal  attached ;  and  I  give  it  to 
him  also  in  order  that  it  may  aid  in  securing  for  him  a  regular  ordina- 
tion to  the  pastoral  office  at  the  hands  of  the  illustrious  Stolberg  Con- 
sistory at  Wernigerode. 

Now,  a  pastor  having  thus  bo^n  regularly  called  bv  the  authoritv  of 
the  aforesaid  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover  and  Provi- 
dence, if  God  should  grant  him  a  prosperous  entering  in  among  them, 


APPENDIX   TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION.  125 

it  will  remain  for  them  to  give  him  a  hearty  welcome  and  to  cherish 
him  in  love  as  a  servant  of  God  and  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  I  have  such 
confidence  in  them,  that  I  can  assure  Mr.  Brunnholtz  that  these  con- 
gregations, both  out  of  a  sense  of  duty  and  obligation,  and  also  out  of 
gratitude  to  God  and  man,  will  specify  and  provide  for  him  such  a 
salary  as  may  be  necessary  for  his  support,  as  they  have  done  for  Pas- 
tor Muhlenberg,  and  that  they  will  do  their  part  with  a  ready  mind. 
As  to  the  rest;  the  question,  in  which  one  of  the  several  congregations 
Mr.  Brunnholtz  shall  be  appointed  to  labor,  is  referred  to  the  decision 
of  Pastor  Muhlenberg  and  of  the  elders  and  deacons  of  the  congrega- 
tions themselves. 

May  God  who  is  plenteous  in  mercy  and  grace,  and  who  will  have 
all  men  to  be  saved  and  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  His  truth  in 
Christ  Jesus,  richly  endow  this  His  servant  with  His  light  and  with 
the  grace  of  His  Holy  Spirit,  take  him  under  His  protection  and  grant 
him  a  safe  and  prosperous  voyage  to  his  appointed  field  of  labor  in  the 
Lord,  ])lessing  his  work  therein  with  abundant  fruit,  so  that  all  who 
hear  him  may  be  brought  to  a  lively  knowledge  of  God  and  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ,  and  be  firmly  established  in  the  same ;  in  short,  that  he, 
with  his  hearers,  may  obtain  grace,  salvation,  life,  and  finally  the  ever- 
lasting inheritance.     Amen. 

(G.  A.  Francke.) 

Given  at  Halle,  April  4th,  1744. 

In  the  draught  of  this  letter  the  signature  is  wanting. 

The  original  call  given  to  Muhlenberg,  it  seems,  has  not  been  pre- 
served. The  account  of  the  first  transactions  had  with  him  also  fails; 
which,  however,  are  described,  at  length,  in  his  autobiography.  For 
this  reason,  the  regular  call  given  to  Pastor  Brunnholtz  is  of  consider- 
able importance  in  an  edition  of  the  Halle  Reports. 

Then  follow  "  Instructions  for  Mr.  Peter  Brunnholtz,  called  to  the 
office  of  pastor  in  Pennsylvania."  These  "Instructions"  include  ten 
items,  of  which  the  seven  first  relate  to  his  journey;  the  rest  are  as 
follows:  8)  Should  God  grant  him  a  prosperous  voyage  to  Philadel- 
phia, upon  his  arrival  there,  he  will,  first  of  all,  exhibit  to  Pastor  Muh- 
lenberg and  the  elders  of  the  congregations  his  written  call  and  other 
testimonials  that  have  been  given  to  him ;  then,  in  the  presence  of  God, 
he  will  confer  Avith  them  as  to  the  precise  place  in  which  he  will  locate, 
and  as  to  the  best  arrangements  that  can  be  made  for  his  work ;  and 
further,  the  field  of  labor  for  the  two  cateehists,  whether  in  Philadel- 
phia or  in  New  Hanover  or  in  Providence,  will  be  determined.  9)  In 
respect  to  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  he  will  he  careful  to  con- 
fer fully,  with  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  about  whatever  may  require  atten- 
tion, and  undertake  nothing  without  having  first  had  such  conference. 
He  will  earnestly  endeavor  to  co-operate  with  Pastor  Muhlen1)erg  in 
the  bonds  of  peace  and  in  the  love  of  God;  and  in  order  that  Christian 


126  APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION. 

harmony  may  be  maintained  the  more  firmly,  he  will  accord  to  the 
said  Muhlenberg  the  love  and  honor  due  to  the  elder  brother.  lOj  Upon 
his  voyage  he  will  keep  a  short  journal,  and  transmit  the  same  to  us  at 
an  early  day ;  and,  in  future,  he  will  report  from  time  to  time  the  pro- 
gress and  results  of  his  official  work,  in  order  that  the  friends  and 
patrons  of  these  congregations  may  be  well  informed  as  to  the  con- 
dition of  the  Kingdom  of  God  in  America. 


'  VI. 

Mr.  Brunnholtz  to  G.  A.  Francke,  Wernigerode,  April  12th.  "My 
filial  love  and  duty  require  me  to  report,  that  I  arrived  at  AVernige- 
rode  in  good  condition,  at  11  o'clock  on  Thursday;  that  I  was,  at  once, 
warmly  welcomed,  and  am  now  lodged  at  the  castle.  On  Friday,  April 
10th,  between  the  hours  of  10  and  12,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  en- 
tire reigning  family  and  of  the  Count  of  Schwartzau,  I  was  examined 
by  the  vSuperintendent  Lau,  and  the  Counselor  of  the  Consistory,  Zieg- 
ler.  Thereupon  I  was  put  under  solemn  oath  to  contend  for  the  true 
faith.  To-day,  in  the  public  assembly  of  the  Church,  and  with  much 
prayer  and  supplication,  on  the  part  of  believers,  I  was  solemnly  or- 
dained and  consecrated.  Superintendent  Lau  preached  the  sermon 
and  performed  the  act  of  ordination.  Pastor  Walliser,  Court  Deacon 
Hildebrand  and  Pastor  Hermes  assisted ;  and,  this  afternoon  I  preached 
in  the  castle.  No  doubt  his  Grace  has  already  written  to  your  Rever- 
ence about  procuring  for  me  a  royal  pass  through  Denmark.  My  ex- 
amination and  ordination  papers  cost  me  two  dollars.  Beyond  this  I 
had  no  expense." 


VII. 

Count  Stolberg  to  G.  A.  Francke,  April  12th,  1744. 

"  Mr.  Brunnholtz  sustained  a  creditable  examination  on  Friday  last ; 
and  this  morning  he  was  admitted  to  holy  orders.  Thank  God,  that 
He  has  inclined  the  heart  of  this.  His  faithful  servant  to  undertake 
the  voyage  to  West  India.  May  special  blessings  rest  upon  it  "^  *  *. 
Yesterday  I  wrote  to  Denmark,  requesting  a  passport  for  him  as  being 
a  Danish  subject ;  also  requesting  that  the  same  document  might  se- 
cure protection  for  his  companions  Schaum  and  Kurtz,  and  for  their 
baggage,  so  that  they  might  be  shielded  somewhat  against  the  fierce 
flames  of  the  war  now  ragins^," 


VIII. 

Superintendent  Lau  to  G.  A  Francke,  Wernigerode,  April  12th, 
1744.  "Mr.  Brunnholtz  has,  no  doubt,  already  informed  your  Rever- 
ence, among  other  things,  that  he  was  ordained  to-day,  the  second  Sun- 


APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION.  127 

day  after  Easter,  in  the  Court  Chapel.  In  his  examination  he  showed 
that  he  had  made  fine  attainments  in  theohjgical  science,  and  that  he 
had  studied  the  Word  of  God  with  diligence.  This  afternoon  he 
preached  at  the  castle  and  acquitted  himself  very  well.  Even  inde- 
pendently of  these  things,  we  have  been  well  acquainted  with  the  sin- 
cerity of  his  heart  for  two  years  already.  We  have,  all  of  us,  offered 
thanks  to  God  for  having  directed  your  attention  and  your  confidence 
to  this  man ;  and  we  are  all  of  opinion  that  he  will  suit  admirably  as  a 
co-worker  with  Muhlenberg,  and  that  blessed  results  will  follow.  May 
the  faithful  Saviour  raise  up  many  more  such  laborers,  and  extend  His 
Kingdom  gloriously  in  all  lands." 

Samuel  Lau.     ' 


IX. 
FORMULA  JURAMENTI. 

I,  Peter  Brunnholtz,  do,  with  my  whole  heart,  and  with  the  words 
of  my  voice,  make  oath  before  the  Omniscient  God. 

Rev.  August  Gotthilf  (the  order  of  these  names  was  erroneously  in- 
verted at  Wernigerode)  Francke,  Prof  Ordinarius,  at  Halle,  being 
fully  authorized  thereto,  by  the  deacons  and  elders  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  and  specially  in  Philadelphia, 
New  Hanover,  Providence  and  Germantown,  has  given  me  a  regular 
call  to  the  office  of  pastor  and  preacher  in  said  congregations,  binding 
me  to  be  faithful  to  the  Word  of  God,  pure  and  incorrupt,  even  as  the 
same  is  contained,  according  to  the  mind  of  the  Spirit  in  the  Scriptures 
of  the  holy  prophets  and  apostles,  and  also  as  it  is  concisely  repeated 
and  distinctly  set  forth  in  the  three  chief  symbols,  and  also,  specifically, 
in  the  symbolical  books  of  the  true  Lutheran  church,  to-wit:  the  unal- 
tered Augsburg  Confession,  its  Apology,  the  Schmalcald  Articles,  the 
two  Catechisms  of  Luther,  and  the  special  Formula  of  Concord,  all 
drawn  with  great  diligence  out  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  prepared 
in  direct  opposition  to  all  false  teachings,  and  that  I  shall  not  only,  for 
myself,  by  the  help  of  God,  abide  steadfast  in  the  same  until  I  die,  but 
also  labor  with  the  utmost  diligence  to  build  up  the  congregations 
which  God  may  commit  to  my  care,  according  to  this  rule,  in  the  pure, 
true  faith,  and  in  Christian  love,  opposing  with  all  my  might,  through 
the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  whatever  may  hinder  this  faith  and  love, 
and  whatever  errors  might  work  harm  to  souls,  also  conducting  my- 
self in  doctrine  and  in  practice  towards  God,  towards  the  authorities 
above  me,  and  towards  my  neighbors  as  it  becomes  a  servant  of  Christ 
to  do,  and  as  I  expect  to  answer  before  God's  judgment  seat  at  last;  to 
all  this  may  God  help  me  and  His  Holy  Word. 


128  APPENDIX   TO   FIRST   CONTINUATIOXo 

X. 

In  a  letter  from  Hamburg,  dated  April  21st,  1744,  Brimnholtz  states 
that  he  is  sojourning  in  the  house  of  a  merchant,  Waschmann,  "^vith 
^vhonl  I  had  become  acquainted  when  passing  through  this  city  four 
years  ago."  From  this  we  may  infer  that  he  Avas  engaged  for  that 
length  of  time  at  Halle,  and  in  the  office  of  Catechist,  as  founded  by 
von  Gensau,  in  Farrenst^edt.  In  Hannover  he  extols  the  great  kind- 
ness of  Madame  von  Muenchhausen  and  of  Mr.  Boettcher,  a  merchant, 
who  showed  him  a  letter  of  Muhlenberg's  and  gave  him  a  present  of 
17  ells  of  black  Gottingen  camlet,  "to  make  a  coat  for  Pastor  Muhlen- 
berg, and  also  one  for  myself  My  coat  is  to  be  made  in  Hamburg, 
and  the  rest  of  the  cloth  is  to  be  cut  into  pieces  of  suitable  length,  so 
that  the  excise  officers  may  not  seize  it." 

Amongst  others  to  whom  Brunnholtz  sends  his  compliments,  in  his 
letters,  we  find  Sebastian  Andrew  Fabricius,  youngest  brother  of  the 
well-knoAvn  Tamul  missionary,  John  Philip  Fabricius,  a  theologian  by 
birth,  private  secretary  of  Francke  after  about  1740,  then,  for  many 
years,  inspector  of  the  Canstein  Bible  Institute,  who  directed  all  the 
external  arrangements  connected  with  the  regular  sending  off  of  mis- 
sionaries and  of  pastors  to  America.  He  j^repared  the  draughts  of 
nearly  all  the  letters  that  were  sent  to  the  preachers  and  missionaries, 
certain  additions  and  alterations  having  been  introduced  by  G.  A. 
Francke.  To  Fabricius  above  all  others  our  thanks  are  due  for  his 
careful  collection  of  the  records.  Director  Schulze*  paid  him  the  fol- 
lowing tribute  in  1790:  "The  inspector,  Sebastian  Andrew  Fabricius, 
who  has  been  so  distinguished  for  his  many  services  to  all  the  interests 
of  Christian  missions,  for  more  than  30  years,  entered  into  rest,  on  Jan. 
10th,  aged  74.  It  would  be  ingratitude  in  us,  to  withhold  from  him 
the  praise  of  untiring  zeal  in  these  matters  that  so  intimately  concern 
the  glory  of  God.  In  them,  indeed,  he  always  found  sources  of  pure 
delight;  and  all,  even  our  oldest  missionaries  who  yet  survive,  will  bear 
him  testimony,  that  both  before  and  after  their  departure  to  their  sev- 
eral fields,  he  always  treated  them  as  a  father  and  a  friend.  For  him 
many  grateful  tears  will  yet  be  felt  to  flow." 

He  kept  the  pecuniary  accounts  for  missions  in  India  and  in  Amer- 
ica; afterwards  he  prepared  the  several  Reports  for  publication,  and 
subsequent  to  the  death  of  G.  A.  Francke  in  1769,  had  great  influence 
in  the  general  management  of  the  missions.  The  unfortunate  prag- 
matic style,  as  it  may  be  called,  of  the  First  Brief  Report  and  its 
continuations  with  their  extracts  from  the  letters,  etc.,  is  in  marked 
contrast  with  the  manner  subsequently  adopted  of  giving  the  fullest 

*  See  Dr.  W.  German's  Biography  of  John  Ph.  Fabricius,  p.  69.  This  book 
and  the  biography  of  Christian  Fr.  Schwartz,  by  the  same  author,  giye  us  nuich 
information  about  the  condition  of  affairs  in  Halle,  London  and  Wernigerode; 
and  specially,  about  the  confessional  relations  of  the  men  of  Halle  to  the  Church 
of  England. 


APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION.  129 

possible  account  of  the  matters  discussed  in  the  Reports  that  had  been 
furnished.  This  improvement  was  effected  by  Seb.  Andr.  Fabricius, 
to  whom  so  much  honor  is  due  for  his  services  to  the  Church  in  Amer- 
ica.    It  is  not  known  who  was  the  editor  of  the  earlier  reports. 

A  P.  S.  to  Brunnholtz's  letter  from  Hamburg  gives  the  following 
plan  of  his  journey  in  Holstein :  "  Upon  my  tour  in  Holstein  I  go  from 
this' city  to  Pretz,  and  spending  one  day  there  I  go  direct  to  Kiel, 
Eckernfoerde,  to  Schleswig,  thence  by  coach  to  Fredrichstadt,  which 
is  four  miles  off.  Here  I  remain  several  days,  during  which  time  I 
visit  Mr.  Ulitsch  at  Toenningen.  From  Fredrichstadt  I  go  to  Bred- 
stadt  in  Husum  where  I  expect  to  stay  about  two  days.  Thence  I  go 
to  Flensburg  to  visit  my  brother  and  then  my  father  who  lives  about 
four  miles  from  Flensburg,  and  from  Flensburg  I  go  direct  back  to 
Hamburg.     ^  Homo  proponit  Deus  diq 


XL 

Extract  of  letter  dated  Flensburg,  May  13th,  1744:  "On  May  6th, 
I  left  Flensburg  to  visit  my  father.  On  May  10th,  I  preached  in  my 
native  place  (Nuebuell,  not  far  from  the  i)arish  of  Dueppel,  'where 
my  youngest  brother,  who  is  of  gentle  disposition  and  whose  heart  is 
longing  for  the  grace  of  God,  has  become  clerk  and  schoolmaster,' 
Journal).  The  theme  of  my  sermon  was  the  utterly  perverse  treat- 
ment which  the  world  accords  to  the  testimony  of  Christ.  Many 
people  came  from  all  directions  to  hear  me,  some  out  of  curiosity,  and 
some  because  they  were  inquiring  for  the  way  of  salvation.  On  INIay 
11th,  I  left  the  house  of  my  father,  who  was  much  affected  when  he 
bade  me  farewell.  My  father  showed  deep  signs  of  grief,  and  in  this 
I  too  had  to  share  with  him,  but  I  tried  to  comfort  myself  and  com- 
mitted them  all  to  God.  O,  Lord  God  remember  my  beloved  relations 
and  save  them !  In  the  evening  I  arrived  safely  at  the  house  of  my 
oldest  brother  at-  Clues  near  Flensburg."  At  Nuebuell  he  adds:  "My 
only  sister  is  also  seeking  the  salvation  of  her  soul,  thank  God ! "  At 
Flensburg  he  was  entertained  in  the  home  of  a  wealthy  merchant, 
Abr.  Hall,  "who  had  showed  me  much  kindness  at  the  university." 


XII. 

His  journal  or  diary  of  his  journey  which  Jie  began  to  write  on 
March  13th,  and  from  which  an  extract  has  been  given  in  the  paren- 
thesis (  )  above,  is  quite  full  and  interesting.  The  first  thing  recorded 
is,  that  on  March  8th,  Oculi,  he  preached  a  farewell  sermon  in  a  public 
hall  at  Farrenstadt,  addressed  to  those  who  had  been  attending  his 
preaching — text.  Acts,  20:  21,  25,  32.  "The  Vice-Director,  von  Gen- 
sau,  contributed  one  ducat  towards  the  building  of  the  church  in  Phil- 
adelphia, Mr.  Wolff  von  Trebra  gave  two  Louisdors  and  Madame  von 


130  APPENDIX   TO   FIRST   CONTINUATIOX. 

Trebra  gave  three  dollars."  On  March  13th,  an  estimahle  lawyer, 
Schuetze,  accompanied  him  to  Halle,  where  he  preached  in  Ulrichs- 
kirche  for  Struensee,  in  the  Schulkirche  at  the  request  of  Dr.  Francke, 
and  twice  in  the  Church  XJnsrer  Lieben  Frauen  March  23d,  26th, 
traveled  on  foot  and  bade  farewell  to  his  friends  in  Koethen,  March 
26th,  receives  a  letter  from  Schuetze  with  two  Louisdors  and  the  words: 
"  Lord  do  good  unto  Zion,  and  by  Thy  Grace  build  up  her  walls  in 
Philadelphia  that  the  inhabitants  thereof  may  praise  the  name  of  the 
Lord."  April  6th,  he  departs  from  Halle  and  travels  with  Pastor 
Walliser,  of  Ilsenburg,  to  Wernigerode.  "April  10th,  Friday,  at  8.30 
A.M.,  the  Consistory  convened  in  the  apartment  of  his  Excellency  the 
ruling  Count,  and  examined  me  upon  the  article  of  the  Resurrection, 
its  certainty,  its  characteristics  and  its  fruits ;  as  also  upon  the  article 
of  Justification,  its  theoretical  exhibition  and  its  practical  experience. 
After  this,  several  subjects  were  given  me  to  read  and  to  reflect  upon, 
and  then  I  was  required  to  certify  my  devotion  to  maintain  the  true 
faith  by  a  solemn  oath,  Avhich  I  did.  ^  ^  *  *  In  the  evening,  ]\Ir. 
Richter,  the  catechist,  not  ftir  from  Wernigerode,  called  upon  me  and 
gave  me  his  reasons  for  declining  the  call  to  Pennsylvania  which  had 
been  given  him.  April  11th,  spent  the  forenoon  in  writing  a  sketch 
of  my  life  in  German,  so  that  it  might  be  read  publicly  in  the  presence 
of  the  Avhole  congregation.  April  12th,  second  Sunday  after  Easter, 
whilst  the  congregation  was  singing  the  principal  hymn,  I  had  to  en- 
gage in  confession.  Then  the  Rev.  Superintendent  Lau  preached  the 
ordination  sermon,  depicting  the  spirit  of  a  good  shepherd  and  of  his 
flock,  and  so  giving  me  many  valuable  lessons  and  encouragements 
for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  that  belong  to  my  future  office.  After 
the  sermon  a  hymn  was  sung,  imploring  the  presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  ('Komm  heil'ger  Geist),'  and  during  the  singing  of  the  last 
verse  I  advanced  before  the  altar.  Then  the  Rev.  Superintendent  Lau 
made  a  short  statement  of  my  circumstances  and  read  the  sketch  of  my 
life  which  I  had  prepared,  as  also  my  formal  call  to  Pennsylvania. 
This  being  done,  the  reverend  assistants  stood  by  the  side  of  the  super- 
intendent, who  performed  the  act  of  ordination,  all  of  them  uniting  in 
the  imposition  of  hands.  Upon  the  conclusion  of  this,  the  reverend 
assistants  congratulated  and  encouraged  me,  each  of  them  addressing 
me  in  appropriate  terms.  After  the  solemn  act  was  completed,  I  re- 
ceived the  Supper  of  the  Lord  alone,  and  the  whole  service  was  closed 
with  the  singing  of  a  verse  ('Was  ich  gethan  hab  und  gelehrt,  etc.),' 
which  made  a  deep  impression  upon  me. 

Whilst  we  were  partaking  of  dinner  afterwards,  every  one  who  sat 
at  the  table,  gave  me,  for  my  encouragement,  and  as  a  memorial,  a  pas- 
sage of  Scripture,  or  a  verse  of  a  hymn,  all  Avritten  upon  the  same 
sheet  of  paper,  and  with  their  several  hands.  April  25th,  dined  with 
Rev.  Mag.  Buetzer,  pastor  in  Kiel,  whom  I  had  previously  known. 
His  wife  remembered  that  the  preacher  Schultze  from  Pennsylvania, 


APPENDIX   TO   FIRST   CONTINUATION.  131 

l:ad  collected  money  in  Kiel,  and  that  she  had  spoken  with  him/'  April 
27th,  Friedrichstadt :  "  I  was  entertained  by  the  Rev.  Chief  Pastor  Kail, 
an  excellent  man,  and  a  good  old  friend  of  mine.  April  30th,  preached 
for  Pastor  Kail,  and  then,  in  the  afternoon,  rode  out  a  couple  of  miles 
towards  Toenning,  to  see  the  Rev.  Pastor  Ulitsch.  He  is  an  earnest 
man,  with  the  savor  of  genuine  salt,  and  bright  as  a  burning  light  in 
the  dark  region  of  Eidei*staedt,  where  he  lives.  He  took  me  through 
his  orphan-house,  which  has  been,  quite  lately,  built  and  is  well  ar- 
ranged. In  this  institution,  Mr.  Thomson  and  Mr.  Dahl  are  regular 
teachers.* 

May  2d,  drove  to  Bredstadt  in  the  afternoon,  reaching  the  village 
late  in  the  evening.  In  this  place  I  sj^ent  six  years ;  here  the  Lord 
laid  His  hand  upon  my  soul,  and  here  I  endured  much."  May  20th, 
again  in  Hamburg ;  "  I  got  my  royal  pass  for  Denmark  (signed  by  the 
hand  of  the  King  himself,  and  the  same  favor  for  the  two  catechists, 
accorded  by  the  King  in  answer  to  Count  Stolberg's  direct  petition) 
also,  letters  from  Halle.  Among  others  was  a  letter  from  Mr.  Oswald, 
in  Greiz,  requesting  me  to  become  his  assistant.  He  can  hardly  have 
heard  about  the  change  in  my  plans.  May  25th,  to-day  I  enjoyed  the 
prospect  of  greeting  the  catechists  who  arrived,  in  good  condition, 
about  3  o'clock  p.  M.,  having  travelled,  at  moderate  expense,  by  ordin- 
ary stage. 

June  1st,  the  Rev.  Pastor  Hoeck  took  me  in  his  carriage  out  to  his 
own  house,  and  here  I  became  acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Missionary 
Schultze  from  Madras,  who  arrived  only  a  few  days  ago,  and  is  enter- 
tained at  the  house  of  Mr.  Culemann,  to  whom  I  also  had  letters  of 
introduction.  The  Missionary  gave  us  much  information  about  India." 
(They  met  each  other  repeatedly  afterwards.)  June  17th,  they  went  to 
Glueckstadt;  and  the  convoy  from  England  having  been  long  delayed, 
on  the  18th  finally  went  on  board  of  a  large  English  ship  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Henry  Hi! eke,  of  Hamburg.  "I  find  it  a  great 
comfort  to  have  my  own  bed ;  and  one  of  my  companions  in  travel 
shares  it  with  me."  After  a  stormy  passage  they  arrived  in  London, 
only,  on  July  20th. 

*  In  a  laro-e  bundle  of  papers,  a  letter  has  been  found,  addressed  by  Thomson 
of  Toenningen  to  Deacon  Nieraeyer  in  Halle,  dated  Sept.  3d,  1747.  These  papers 
contain  also  the  accounts  of  receipts  and  expenditures  for  the  Pennsylvania  con- 
gregations, together  with  contributions  for  the  years  1746  to  1768.  In  the  said 
letter,  Thomson  says :  "  Your  Keverence  may,  perhaps,  remember  that  about  a 
year  ago  I  was  constrained  to  decline  the  call  which  my  dear  friend  the  Eey.  Dr. 
Francice  had  given  me,  though  so  unworthy  of  it.  Now,  as  it  has  not  been  in  my 
power  to  serve  those  precious  souls  in  Pennsylvania  by  my  personal  ministry 
amongst  them,  the  Lord  has  awakened  in  me  a  special  interest  in  the  work  of 
collecting  money  for  them,  from  benevolent  friends  in  the  fatherland ;  and  this 
work  I  propose  to  prosecute  as  long  as  it  may  please  God  to  keep  me  here." 


132  APPENDIX   TO   FIEST   CONTINUATION. 

XIII. 

The  call  (vocation)  addressed  to  the  Catechist  John  Helfrich  Schaum, 
and,  mutatis  mutandis,  John  Nicholas  Kurtz,  to  go  to  Pennsylvania,  is 
as  follows: 

"  In  the  Name  of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity.     Amen. 

"  Whereas  the  Reverend  and  Learned  Henry  Melchior  INIuhlenberg, 
regular  pastor  of  the  Christian  Evangelical  congregations  in  Philadel- 
j^hia,  Nev/  Hanover,  Providence  and  Germantown,  has  made  known  to 
us,  in  writing,  the  absolute  necessity  for  the  appointment  of  catechists 
in  said  congregations,  for  the  relief  of  himself  and  of  his  assistant 
under  the  multiplied  official  duties  that  press  upon  them,  and  ^Yith  the 
full  approbation  of  the  elders  and  deacons  of  the  said  congregations 
and  at  their  special  solicitation,  has  requested  and  empowered  me,  the 
undersigned,  to  select  a  candidate  of  theology  for  said  position,  and  to 
give  him  a  regular  call,  in  the  name  of  the  said  elders  and  deacons,  to 
the  office  of  catechist  in  these  congregations ; 

"  And,  w^hereas,  being  convinced,  that  in  this  matter,  I  have  been  led 
by  the  Divine  guidance,  I  have  selected  Mr.  John  Helfrich  Schaum  of 
Muenchholzhausen  in  Huttenberg,  under  the  dominion  of  Count  Solms- 
Braunfels  (Mr.  John  Nicholas  Kurtz  of  Luetzellinden,  in  Huttenberg, 
under  the  dominion  of  Prince  Weylburg)  a  candidate  for  the  holy 
ministry,  who  is  commended  by  the  valuable  experience  he  has  attained 
in  the  instruction  of  the  young  and  specially  in  catechising,  which  is 
the  most  essential  requisite  for  such  instruction ;  and  by  virtue  of  the 
authority  vested  in  me  by  the  aforesaid  elders  and  deacons,  have  given 
him  a  regular  call,  in  the  name  of  God,  to  the  office  of  catechist  and 
schoolmaster  in  said  congregations,  so  that  he  may  hasten  his  departure 
to  Pennsylvania  and  repair  to  said  congregations,  and  there  by  the 
grace  of  God,  teach  the  youth  that  may  be  committed  to  his  care  read- 
ing, waiting,  arithmetic  and  other  branches  usually  taught  in  schools; 
but  specially,  teach  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  faith  according  to 
the  rule  and  guidance  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  as  it  is  set  forth  in 
Luther's  Catechism,  doing  this  under  the  superintendence  of  Pastor 
Muhlenberg  and  of  his  assistant  Mr.  Peter  Bruunholtz ;  also,  that  at 
the  request  of  the  said  reverened  pastors,  he  may,  on  occasion,  preach 
and  catechise  in  the  several  congregations,  in  their  stead,  and,  in  short, 
faithfully,  diligently  and  promptly  do  and  perform  whatever  belongs 
to  the  office  of  a  catechist  and  schoolmaster,  and  to  the  healthful  ad- 
ministration of  the  same;  the  said  John  Helfrich  Schaum  (John  Nic. 
Kurtz)  accepting  this  call  in  the  name  of  God,  and  obgligating  him- 
self to  abide  by  its  specifications ; 

"  Therefore,  in  testimony,  that  he  is  regularly  called  to  be  a  Catechist 
in  the  said  congregations,  and  by  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  me, 
I  do  hereby  place  in  his  hands  the  present  formal  vocation,  signed  by 
my  own  hand  and  having  my  own  seal  impressed  upon  it,  giving  him 


APPENDIX   TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION.  133 

also  the  assurance  that  if  it  shouki  please  God  to  grant  him  a  prosper- 
ous voyage,  the  congregations  in  Philadelphia,  New  Hanover,  Provi- 
dence and  Germantown  will  welcome  and  acknowledge  the  same  Mr. 
Schauni  (Mr.  Kurtz)  with  all  affection  and  confidence  as  their  cate- 
chiat  and  schoolmaster ;  and,  further,  assuring  him  of  my  firm  trust, 
that  they  will  fix  and  secure  whatever  compensation  may  be  necessary 
for  his  comfortable  support. 

"  The  Lord,  who  will  have  all  men  to  be  saved,  and  to  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth,  grant  him  all  strength  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  that  he  may  do  his  part  in  building  up  Zion,  that  the 
youth  committed  to  his  care  may  be  brought  to  know  the  true  God 
and  Jesus  Christ,  and  then  grow  and  increase  in  that  knowledge  until, 
at  last,  they  shall  be  partakers  of  His  everlasting  glory.    Amen." 

Given  at  Halle,  May  21st,  1744. 


XIV. 

A  series  of  "Instructions"  for  both  catechists,  embracing  six  items, 
admonishes  them  to  be  obedient  to  the  pastors  and  faithful  to  the  con- 
gregations at  whose  charge  they  are  sent  out ;  to  be  on  their  guard  in 
respect  to  "inconsulta  res  uxoria,"  and  not  to  involve  themselves  in 
such  affairs  without  the  knowledge  and  advice  of  those  who  are  set 
over  them ;  also  to  acquire,  whilst  upon  their  journey,  the  art  of  writing 
in  a  clear  and  legible  hand,  "  this  being  a  requisition  in  which  they 
are,  as  yet,  deficient." 

The  circumstance  that  although  the  catechists  had  studied  theology, 
they  were  nevertheless  sent  off  without  having  been  ordained,  is  to  be 
explained  thus :  At  that  time,  at  least  in  North  Germany,  as  is  gener- 
erally  the  case  even  at  the  present  day,  the  rule  was  strictly  observed 
that  no  one  should  be  ordained  without  having  a  definite  charge 
assigned  to  him.  *  It  was  on  this  account  that  prior  to  the  departure 
of  Muhlenberg  from  Germany,  Ziegenhagen  and  Francke  had  so  con- 
stantly insisted  upon  a  regular  call  and  a  specified  salary  in  his  case. 
This  indispensable  requirement  of  Church  order  however  could  not  be 
met  under  the  unsettled  circumstances  that  prevailed  in  America. 
That  two  catechists  were  sent  off  instead  of  one,  may  be  understood  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  they  had  been  very  intimate  friends  from  youth 
up,  .and  that  each  of  them  preferred  to  go  in  company  with  the  other 
rather  than  to  go  alone.  The  close  friendship  that  bound  their  two 
families  together  is  indicated  in  a  letter,  in  the  writing  of  which  the 
father  of  Schaum  and  the  father  of  Kurtz  united,  and  which  is  dated 
Muenchholzhausen,  July  11th,  1744. 

The  letter  is  in  the  handwriting  of  the  father  of  Schaum  who,  at  the 
end,  signs  himself  "your  Reverence's  humble  servant,  and  unworthy 

*  See  note  on  section  29  of  Muhlenberg's  private  correspondence. 


134  APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTIXUATIOX. 

disciple  of  Christ,  Preceptor  Schaum ;"  then  also,  "  John  George  Kiiilz, 
school-teacher  at  Luetzellinden "  signs  himself  with  his  own  hand. 
The  letter  states  as  follows : 

"At  first  the  thought  of  the  departure  of  our  sons  to  Pennsylvania 
made  us  very  sad  and  uncomfortable,  particularly  because  we  Avere 
then  taking  counsel  with  flesh  and  blood,  and  with  people  who  thought 
more  of  what  is  earthly  than  of  what  is  heavenly  and  eternal.  This 
was  because  at  first  we  could  not  at  all  give  them  up,  nor  submit  to 
the  appointments  of  our  faithful  Father  in  heaven.  So,  if  matters  had 
gone  according  to  our  indiscreet  views,  then  this  blessed  work  that  is 
undertaken  for  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
might,  in  this  respect,  have  been  seriously  im^^eded  by  us ;  the  Lord  m 
heaven  forgive  us!  As  soon,  however,  as  we  had  taken  counsel  of 
faithful  followers  of  Christ  Ave  could  not  otherAvise  than  say :  *  The  Avill 
of  the  Lord  be  done.'  I,  for  my  part,  together  Avith  my  Avhole  family, 
had  cherished  fond  hopes  respecting  my  son  Avho  is  noAV  aa'cII  nigh 
through  his  education,  and  his  expenses  at  our  favored  Halle.  Besides 
I  had  trusted  that  he  himself  might  be  helpful  to  his  poor  little  brother 
Avho  is  also  at  Halle  at  this  time,. but  Avhom  he  must  noAV  leave.  Hoav- 
ever,  the  Lord  has  Avork  for  him  to  do  elseAvhere  in  His  vineyard,  so 
Ave  must  permit  him  to  obey  the  call  and  not  Avithstand  the  Lord, 
firmly  belieA^ng  that  He  Avill  bless  us  the  more  abundantly  and  estab- 
lish us  in  the  experience  of  His  grace.  The  Lord  thus  teaches  us  only 
the  more  clearly  that  Ave  should  not  depend  upon  the  things  of  this 
world,  but  rely  upon  Himself  alone.  It  is  His  Avill  that  Ave  should  put 
our  trust  and  our  confidence  in  Him  only,  and  if  Ave  do  this.  He  Avill 
provide  for  us  everything  that  is  necessary  and  useful  for  the  present 
life,  and  specially  enrich  us  in  the  abundance  of  His  spiritual  favors. 
And  noAV,  may  the  Lord  Avork  His  good  pleasure  in  us  through  the 
Holy  Spirit  for  the  sake  of  Jesus,  our  Saviour.     Amen ! 

We  may  yet  add,  that  Ave  parents,  i.  e.,  my  dear  colleague  Kurtz, 
and  myself,  have  receiA^ed  letters  from  our  sons  Avhom  Ave  have  gi\"en 
to  the  Lord,  from  Hamburg  or  Cuxhaven,  dated  June  29th.  The  let- 
ters arrived  July  10th,  and  opened  the  fountains  of  tears  afresh,  speci- 
ally, Avith  the  two  mothers,  Avho  continue  their  lamentations,  saying, 
Tobit,  10:4,  5,  but  Ave  both  ansAver  them,  at  once,  Tobit,  10:6;  and 
as  Ave  find  in  their  letters,  that  God  is  their  Shield ;  and,  as  their  Guide, 
leads  them,  and  in  all  places  awakens  belicAang  hearts  to  treat  t];iem 
Avith  Christian  sympathy  and  loA^e,  Ave  can  but  be  satisfied.  O  Lord, 
God,  Thou  true  Defence,  Thou  doest  all  things  aa^cII. 

As  our  sons,  both  of  them,  desire  to  hear  from  us  by  letter,  we,  the 
parents,  Avish  to  gratify  them;  and  as  they  haA^e  instructed  us  to  direct 
our  letters  to  the  care  of  your  Eeverence,  Ave  take  the  liberty,  as  your 
children  in  the  Lord,  to  request  our  dearly  beloved  and  Jiev.  Professor, 
to  liaA^e  our  letters  forAA'arded  by  the  hands  of  some  reliable  person, 
who  will  not  think  the  service  to  be  burdensome.  The  Lord  Avill  not 
fail  to  reward  it. 


APPENDIX   TO    FIRST   CONTINUATION.  135 

My  Eev.  Professor,  to  whom  my  heart  fondly  clings,  I  entreat  you, 
next  to  God,  be  favorable  to  my  little  son  (William  Kurtz,  who  also 
came  to  America  afterwards,)  I  hope  that  the  dear  child  will  be  docile 
and  obedient. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  your  prayers  on  my  behalf,  and  remain  your 
Keverence's,  etc.*" 


XV. 

We  give  here  only  a  few  items  taken  from  the  very  comprehensive 
journal  written  by  Brunnholtz  whilst  upon  his  travels. 

"Monday,  Oct.  8th,  1744 — wrote  to  Dr.  Ziegenhagen  informing  him 
that  we  expected  to  land  at  Portsmouth,  and  respectfully  requesting 
him  to  greet  us  there,  in  a  paternal  letter.  At  the  meeting  for  prayer, 
I  spoke  upon  Psalm  4;  at  the  evening  meeting,  I  took  Exodus,  5tli 
chapter,  and  discoursed  about  faith.  At  this  meeting  I  began  to  repeat, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Swiss,  that  hymn  which  the  Rev.  Court  Chaplain 
has  composed  for  the  instruction  of  the  young  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
which  contains  the  chief  parts  of  the  Order  of  Salvation."  (Of  this 
hymn  we  know  nothing.  Several  German  Reformed  families,  with 
their  children,  from  SAvitzerland,  accompanied  him  on  his  journey  to 
Pennsylvania;  as  also,  a  Reformed  preacher,  Gordon,  from  Scotland, 

*  We  can  produce  other  testimony  upon  matters  contained  in  this  _  letter. 
Among  the  papers,  etc.  left  behind  by  Pastor  J.  Helfr.  Schaum,  there  is,  in  pos- 
session of  Prof.  Dr.  F,  A.  Muhlenberg,  Pa.  Univ.,  a  collection  of  letters  written 
by  divers  hands,  which  furnish  answers  to  many  questions  that  Ave  have  hitherto, 
never  been  able  to  solve.  In  this  collection  is  the  following  letter  written  by  Pas- 
tor J.  Ohly,  of  Cubach,  who  labored  in  sympathy  with  Plalle,  and  who  was  quite 
intimate  with  the  families  of  Schaum  and  Kurtz.  It  is  addressed  to  Sebast.  A. 
Fabricius,  Inspector  at  Halle,  to  whose  high  praise  must  be  ascribed  the  prepara- 
tion of  our  Halle  Eeports.  We  now  present  the  part  of  this  letter  that  concerns 
the  subject  before  us:  "Mr.  Schaum  and  Mr.  Kurtz  were  not  willing  to  listen  to 
one  word  about  their  sons'  going  off  to  America,  they  had  even  pronounced  an 
imprecation  upon  it ;  besides,  the  younger  Schaum  Avas  called  back  from  Halle  at 
once.  These  and  other  matters  are  handled  in  the  letters  which  their  fathers  had 
written  to  Eisenach.  These  letters  Avere  written  in  the  first  flames  of  their  mdig- 
nation,  for  which  also  the  reverend  clergy  supplied  fuel,  insinuating  that  the  call 
given  them  was  no  regular  vocation,  but  onlv  a  mere  attempt  to  talk  them  into 
it;_  and  that  Halle  was  full  of  Pietists  and  Quakers,  and  people  ought  to  take  then- 
children  awav  from  Halle." 

"After  I  had  received  a  letter  from  Schaum  himself  (the  son)  and  one  from 
my  dear  brother,  (Fabricius)  I  did  not  know  Avhat  was  better  to  do  than  to  Avrite. 
at  once,  to  Muenchholzhausen  and  to  Luetzellinden,  that  I  might  ascertain  every- 
thing, which  I  did  on  the  5th  inst.  But  I  obtained  poor  satisfaction;  aiid 
although,  old  Mr.  Kurtz,  moved  bv  the  statements  of  his  son,  addressed  to  him 
from  Allendorf,  and  also,  of  my  grandfather,  had  written  another  letter  toLisen- 
ach  recalling  his  former  letter;  yet  he  A'ery  soon  changed  his  mind  again,  and 
even  had  this  letter  taken  out  of  the  postofiice.  Hactenus  tristiora,  Miorase- 
quntur." 

The  letter  then  goes  on :  "Just  now,  April  6th,  the  worthy  elder,  Messrs.  Kurtz 


136  APPENDIX   TO    FIRST   COXTlNUiiTION. 

who  had  been  called  to  Virginia,  and  from  whom  Brunnholtz  Teceived 
instruction  in  the  English  language.)  "I  also  sang  this  hymn,  and 
shall  have  to  repeat  it,  in  their  hearing,  until  they  themselves  shall 
have  learnt  it ;  and  then  I  shall  go  over  it  with  them  in  the  form  of 
questions  and  answers.  The  Christian  education  of  the  children  of  the 
Germans  has  been  very  much  neglected;  and,  as  I  foresee  that  they 
will  be  bound  to  hard  work  in  Pennsylvania,  I  have  urged  the  cate- 
chists  to  give  them  instruction  whenever  the  weather  will  admit  of  it." 
In  England,  Brunnholtz  became  acquainted  Avith  a  German  Reformed 
l^reacher,  named  Zubly,  who,  however,  sailed  in  another  ship,  and  went 
to  "Purrisburg"  near  Ebenezer.  Upon  their  voyage  they  had  to  wit- 
ness much  that  was  dissolute  and  abominable  in  the  conduct  of  the 
captain  and  the  sailors. 

ARRIVAL  IN  PENNSYLVANIA. 

"Jan.  15th,  1745. — *  When  the  Lord  turned  again  the  captivity  of 
Zion,  then  was  our  mouth  filled  with  laughter  and  our  tongue  with 
singing.'  Now,  they  will  say,  in  Europe,  the  Lord  hath  done  great 
things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad.  This  morning  the  weather  cleared 
up,  and  all  at  once  a  strong  wind  arosG  that  drove  us  rapidly  onward, 
so  that  about  noon  we  cast  anchor  near  Gloucester,  four  miles  from 
Philadelphia.    We  changed  our  clothing  and  left  the  ship,  in  company 

and  Schaum,  have  left  me,  and  after  very  deliberate  consideration,  have  embraced 
sentiments  altogether  different,  that  is,  they  will  commit  everything  to  the  will  of 
God,  and  to  the  free  disposal  of  the  authorities  there  (at  Halle).  If  your  Eever- 
ence,  Prof.  Dr.  Francke,  will  declare  that  this  matter  concerns  the  glory  of  God, 
the  welfare  of  man  and  the  temporal  and  eternal  interests  of  the  young,  and  fur- 
ther, that  their  sons  have  the  requisite  qualifications,  and  that  their  aiDpointment 
is  in  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  then  they,  the  parents,  will  not  say  one  word 
against  it,  and  will,  without  delay,  recall  whatever  rash  and  inconsiderate  lan- 
gua^^e  they  have  hitherto  said  or  written,  and  declare  it  all  to  be  void.  It  is  not 
possible  for  them  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  journey  of  their  sons.  The  worthy 
men  left  here  in  quite  a  pleasant  frame  of  mind." 
_ Dated,  Cubach,  (near  Weilburg,  Province  of  Hesse-Xassau,  Prussia),  April  6th, 
l"-il-  Your  sincere  brother, 

[Signed.]  J.  Ohly. 

Under  date  of  July  11th,  1744,  John  Ph.  H.  Schaum,  the  father,  in  ansAver  to  a 
letter  from  his  son  at  Cuxhaven  says,  among  other  things:  ''Both  I  myself,  and 
specially  your  dear  mother,  and  all'  your  brothers  and  sisters  who  were' all  pres- 
ent, shed  many  tears  at  the  reading  of  your  letter.  Your  grandmother  too,  and 
your  brother-in-law  were  present,  and  their  sighs  and  tears  were  mingled  with  our 
own.  Your  mother  wept  too  much;  and  manv  a  time  when  she  is  alone;  and  I 
have  often  to  try  to  comfort  her.  Then  she  \says,  if  she  could  only  hear  some 
good  news  from  you,  that  you  were  in  a  pleasant'place  and  were  comfortable  and 
well,  then  she  would  be  satisfied.  Now,  the  Lord  who  has  directed  us  so  far  will 
do  all  things  well.  My  colleague,  Kurtz  and  I,  are  on  very  intimate  terms,  we 
are  united  in  the  love  of  God,  and  our  intercourse  witli  each  other  is  frequent  and 
pleasant.     The  beloved  Pastor  Ohly  spent  a  night  with  us  not  long  ago." 

W.  J.  M.  AND  B.  M.  SCH. 


APPENDIX    TO    FIEST    CONTINUATION.  137 

with  Capt.  Martin,  Capt.  Mcsnard  and  several  others.  We  had  to 
travel  on  foot,  over  a  miserable  swampy  road.  As  we  went  along,  we 
wondered  where  we  should  first  report  ourselves  in  Philadelphia,  when, 
all  at  once,  a  man  came  running  up  behind  us,  out  of  the  woods,  and, 
in  a  very  anxious  way,  asked  the  captain,  if  any  Evangelical  clergy- 
men had  come  along  with  him ;  whereupon  I  answered  him  in  a  cheer- 
ful tone:  Here  we  are. 

He  informed  us  that  prayer  had  been  offered,  on  our  behalf,  in  the 
congregations,  every  Sunday;  that  Pastor  Muhlenberg  was,  just  now, 
among  the  congregations  in  the  country ;  but,  that  we  should  first  of 
all,  call  upon  Mr.  Henry  Schleydorn,  merchant,  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran congregation,  and  he  Avould  give  us  further  information. 

We  reached  Philadelphia  about  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  all  in  good  condition, 
called  upon  Mr.  Schleydorn,  were  joyfully  welcomed,  and  with  unusual 
kindness,  by  himself  and  his  excellent  family,  and  sumptuously  enter- 
tained ;  so  that,  after  the  hard  fare  we  had  been  used  to,  it  was  wonder- 
ful in  our  eyes.  We  tarried  there,  until  late  at  night,  he  having  sent 
for  tAVO  of  the  deacons  of  the  Lutheran  church,  Avho  came,  at  once,  and 
welcomed  us  heartily.  I  promised  to  place  in  their  hands  the  letters 
Avhich  had  been  addressed  to  them  by  his  Reverence,  the  Court  Chap- 
lain, as  soon  as  Mr.  Muhlenberg  should  be  present.  They  afterwards 
accompanied  us  to  the  rented  house  of  ]\Ir.  Muhlenberg,  which  is  near 
the  church.  Here  I  united  with  them  in  prayer,  and  then  retired  to 
rest. 

•  Jan.  16th.  In  the  morning  w^e  committed  ourselves  to  the  Lord. 
Our  ship  having  reached  the  city  during  the  night,  the  eldest  deacon 
went  with  us  to  the  vessel  to  arrange  our  effects  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
moving them.  Afterwards  we  went,  with  this  deacon,  to  his  own 
house ;  and  then  dined  at  ]\Ir.  Schley dorn's.  Here  I  wrote  a  letter  to 
my  superiors  in  London  and  Halle,  briefly  reporting  my  safe  arrival. 
Mr.  Schleydorn  sent  this  letter  to  New  York  by  mail.  The  deacons 
sent  an  express  to  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  in  Providence.  In  the  evening 
Mr.  Schleydorn  took  us  to  see  Mr.  Peter  Koch,  the  trustee,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Swedish  congregation  here,  who  received  us  in  a  very 
friendly  manner,  made  divers  inquiries  about  our  call  and  our  creden- 
tials, and  entertained  us  at  supper. 

Jan.  17th.  To-day  all  the  deacons  were  busy  in  transferring  our 
effects  from  the  ship  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Muhlenberg.  We  dined  with 
the  oldest  deacon,  and  in  the  afternoon  visited  the  others.  Four  of 
them  are  employed  in  the  building  of  the  church.  They  are,  1)  David 
Seckel,  a  butcher;  2)  Henry  Keppler,  a  shopkeeper;  3)  Leonard 
Hermann,  a  baker;  4)  Henry  Mueller,  lives  on  a  farm,  one  mile  and 
a  half  from  the  city;  5)  Lorenz  Bast,  lives  on  a  farm,  five  miles  dist- 
ant; 6)  Umstadt,  quite  an  old  man.  Wherever  I  go,  it  is  a  very  joy 
to  me  to  hear  how  faithfully  and  heartily  they  have  been  praying  for 
our  safe  arrival,  ever  since  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  having  been  duly  notified 


138  APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION. 

of  our  appointment,  had  exhorted  them  from  the  pulpit  to  remember 
us  in  their  sui^plications.  On  board  the  ship,  I  had  often  said  to  my 
brethren,  perhaps  there  are  many  in  Pennsylvania  praying  for  us.  In 
Europe  they  are  pushing  our  vessel  off,  in  America  they  are  pulling  it 
near ;  and  this  proved  to  be  true,  for  we  have  been  pushed  and  pulled 
across  very  successfully. 

In  the  evening  Pastor  Muhlenberg  arrived  from  Providence,  whilst 
we  were  in  the  house  of  one  of  the  deacons.  The  deacons  all  accom- 
panied us  to  his  residence.  We  met,  face  to  face.  We  sang  a  hymn 
of  praise,  '  Lobe  den  Herrn,  O  meine  Seele,'  we  united  in  prayer ;  then 
I  placed  all  my  letters  in  his  hands;  and  the  joy  was  great.  Glory  be 
to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men." 

After  this,  there  are  eight  folio  pages,  all  closely  written,  where  also 
we  find  as  follows: 

"Having  closed  the  Diary  of  my  journey  on  Jan.  17th,  I  append 
here  a  short  account  of  my  own  pastoral  experience,  as  also,  of  that  of 
my  honored  colleague,  in  compliance  with  the  10th  paragraph  of  the 
Instructions  given  me  April  6th,  1744."  This  account  extends  to  July 
11th,  1745,  and  is  signed  also  by  Muhlenberg  himself. 


XVI. 

From  the  letter  of  Muhlenberg,  March  6th,  1745,  occupying  five 
closely  written  folio  pages,  we  extract  the  following : 

"  Reverend  Fathers  in  London  and  Halle !  I  know  not  whether  to 
laugh  or  to  cry  at  the  arrival  of  our  three  assistants.  O,  how  I  have 
had  to  struggle  against  doubt,  against  despondency,  against  other  evils. 
'  Wean  die  IStunden  slch  gef widen,  bricht  die  Huelf  mit  Macht  herein.' 
No  doubt,  I  have  been  giving  trouble  and  anxiety  enough  to  my  be- 
loved fathers  in  London  and  Halle,  and  to  my  dear  brethren  in  Ebene- 
zer,  by  my  frequent  lamentations,  for  which  I  pray  them  kindly  to  for- 
give me.  We  cannot  estimate,  at  their  true  value"^  the  great  labors  and 
the  unwearied  carefulness  of  our  most  beloved  fathers  and  benefactors ; 
nor  throughout  eternity,  shall  we  be  able  to  render  adequate  praise  to 
our  Lord  Jesus  for  having  done  such  great,  such  very  great  things  for 
us,  out  of  mercy  alone.  I  have  received,  by  way  of  Charleston,  the 
first  package  of  letters  which  the  reverend  fathers  forwarded  by  the 
hands  of  Pastor  Driessler  (of  Frederica  in  Carolina — full  notice  of  him). 
During  the  following  autumn,  in  1744,  after  long  expectation,  I  re- 
ceived letters  a  second  time.  Among  them  was  the  first  letter  ad- 
dressed to  me  by  his  Reverence,  the  Court  Chaplain,  which  conveyed 
the  joyful  news  that  assistants  were  to  be  sent  over  to  us.  This  sounded 
to  me  as  it  must  have  sounded  to  Jacob  when  he  was  told  "thy  son  Jo- 
seph yet  lives!"  His  heart  thought  fi\r  otherwise  and  so  did  mine; 
but  now  I  have  seen  that  the  Lord  can  do,  and  does  more  than  we  can 


APPENDIX    TO    FIRST    CONTINUATION.  139 

understand.     It  is  not  my  work;  it  is  the  Lord's  working,  therefore 
rejoice,  O,  ye  Heavens,  and  be  ghid,  O  Earth! 

Pastor  Brunnholtz  still  appears  to  have  been  specially  called  of  God, 
and  titted  for  his  position.  The  two  catechists  continue  until  this  day, 
to  give  proof  that,  by  the  grace  of  God  they  are  true  and  faithful  in 
their  work.  Before  these  assistants  came  I  had  had  many  trials ;  but 
at  the  same  time  some  remarkable  instances  of  the  Divine  help. 
Among  my  trials  I  may  state  these: 

1.  The  German  printer,  Christopher  Saner  fcomp.  Weisinger'scKe 
Acten)  here,  sought,  both  in  private  and  in  public,  to  make  both  my- 
self and  my  office  odious ;  and  for  this  reason,  because  I  had,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  conscience,  advised  my  congregation  to  be  very  cautious  when 
they  went  to  purchase  any  of  the  Bibles  which  he  had  lately  printed, 
and  carefully  to  examine  whether  he  had  not  interpolated  some  notions 
of  his  own ;  for  he  is  sure  to  embrace  every  opportunity  elsewhere,  in 
his  almanacs  and  in  his  newspapers,  to  traduce  the  Lutheran  church. 

2.  Another  trial  arose  from  the  fact  that  a  young  Swedish  preacher 
from  Lancaster,  publicly  denounced  me  as  a  Halle  Pietist,  in  a  confer- 
ence that  had  been  called  here  by  Mr.  Peter  Koch. 

3.  A  miserable  rabble  employed  an  audacious  female  to  bring  a  vile 
charge  against  me  before  the  authorities.  Through  the  influence  of 
Mr.  Peter  Koch  and  others,  this  creature  was  arrested  and  required  by 
the  law,  to  produce  proof  She  then  declared  that  a  certain  wicked 
man  had  advised  her  to  go  before  the  officers,  take  a  false  oath,  and 
charge  me  with  a  violent  attack  upon  her.  If  the  devil  had  succeeded 
I  would  have  had  to  resign  my  office ;  but  God  was  my  defence,  and  so 
directed  matters  that  the  base  wretch  acknowledged  her  wickedness, 
and  was  compelled,  in  writing,  to  confess  her  lie  and  to  proclaim  my 
integrity.  Before  she  Avas  let  out  of  prison  she  had  to  bind  herself  to 
ask  forgiveness  of  my  congregations,  publicly,  in  the  church;  which 
was  also  done.  So,  the  attack  of  the  devil  resulted  at  last,  by  the  help 
of  the  Lord  in  magnifying  my  office ;  but  to  me  it  was  a  time  of  much 
suffering. 

After  this  was  over.  Preacher  Andrese  undertook  to  meddle  in  the 
affiiirs  of  the  congregation  at  New  Hanover.  A  widow  had  died  there. 
On  Thursday  I  had  just  reached  my  home,  having  made  the  long  and 
wearisome  journey  from  New  Hanover,  when  a  messenger  came  in  the 
evening  and  wanted  me  to  go  immediately  back  that  night,  for  the 
wddow  was  to  be  buried  on  the  next  day,  Friday.  As  it  was  impossible 
for  me  to  do  this,  I  directed  that  she  should  be  buried  on  Saturday,  at 
which  time  I  would  be  present.  Certain  hard  drinkers  and  men  of 
base  character  took  advantage  of  this,  and  engaged  Preacher  Andrese 
to  attend  the  funeral.  This  gave  rise  to  discussion.  Some  were  op- 
posed to  opening  the  church,  others  were  for  breaking  it  open.  Then 
having  ridden  up  on  Friday  through  the  oppressive  heat  of  the  sun 
and  reached  Hanover  early  on  Saturday  morning,  I  found  that  the 


140  APPENDIX   TO    FIRST   CONTINUATION. 

woman  was  buried  and  the  congregation  Avas.  divided.  Nevertheless,  I 
had  to  come  right  back  again  to  Philadelphia,  because  I  had  engaged 
to  preach  there  on  Sunday.  With  what  sort  of  weapons  could  I  light 
now  ?  The  Quaker  civil  officers  say  we  have  no  use  for  preachers  in 
this  country;  the  hard  drinkers  commonly  say,  as  we  have  to  hire  a 
preacher  for  money  let  us  have  a  jolly  one,  for  this  Muhlenberg  is  too 
strict  for  us.  Serious  and  earnest  souls  wee])  and  sigh.  Andre.e  (a 
preacher  dismissed  at  Zweibriicken)  prowls  about  in  the  neighboring 
parts  and  denounces  me  openly  as  a  Pietist  and  a  Herrnhuter.  Nothing 
was  left  for  me  save  the  love  which  the  most  of  them  still  bear  towards 
me.  Accordingly,  I  laid  hold  of  the  matter  on  this  side,  and  had  the 
congregation  informed  that  if  they  would  tolerate  such  disorders  I 
would  leave  them  and  never  come  again.  This  called  forth  weeping 
and  lamentation.  Some  of  the  disorderly  party  begged  to  be  forgiven, 
and  the  Avell  disposed  people  promised  to  be  more  careful  of  the  in- 
terests of  the  church.  So  I  went  back  to  them  again.  In  Europe  you 
can  scarcely  form  a  correct  idea  of  circumstances  as  they  exist  here. 
The  voyage  across  the  ocean  was  very  hard  upon  me,  but  the  trials 
and  burdens  which  I  have  had  to  bear  in  the  two  years  of  my  pastoral 
experience  here  cannot  be  conceived.  And  yet  I  must  chide  my  own 
unbelief  and  say  the  Lord  is  faithful,  and  there  is  no  unrighteousness 
in  Him. 

Since  my  last  Report  I  have  been  able  to  attend  to  my  work  without 
interruption,  and  have  been  protected  against  any  continued  sickness. 
The  Lord  has  shown  His  mercies  to  myself  and  to  others.  I  have 
instructed  and  confirmed  a  small  number  of  young  persons  in  the  con- 
gregation at  Germantown."  (Here  follows  what  may  be  seen  in  1st 
Continuation,  section  8.) 


XVII. 

(Copy  from  the  Halle  Archives.) 

G.  A.  Francke  to  the  congregations  in  America  (written  in  1744). 

^  To  the  deacons  and  elders  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congrega- 
tions in  Philadelphia,  Germantown,  Ncav  Hanover  and  Providence, 
grace  and  peace  from  God  the  Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

My  worthy  friends : 

No  doubt  you  remember  yet  very  well  with  what  earnest  entreaties 
you  besought  the  Reverend  Court  Chaplain  Ziegenhagen  in  London, 
and  myself  also  from  the  year  1734  onward  for  ten  years  until  this 
time,  to  take  an  interest  in  the  German  Lutheran  congregations  in 
Pennsylvania,  particularly  in  the  places  where  you  reside,  and  specially 
to  meet  their  great  want  of  instruction  in  the  Word  of  God,  and  hasten 


APPENDIX   TO    FIRST   CONTINUATION.  141 

to  their  help  by  selecting  and  sending  out  to  them  a  faithful  teacher  of 
the  Word. 

You  know  also  what  difficulties  we  had  to  meet,  and  even  after  the 
Lord,  through  the  cooperation  of  many  Christian  people  in  Europe, 
had  supplied  us  with  material  aid,  how  hard  we  afterwards  found  it  to 
fix  upon  the  man  who  might  be  fitted  for  the  work.  But  you  know 
too,  how,  in  answer  to  long  and  importunate  prayer,  God  at  last  took 
pity  upon  these  congregations  that  had  been  like  sheep  without  a 
shepherd,  and  pointed  out  your  present  beloved  teacher  and  pastor, 
Mr.  Muhlenberg ;  made  him  willing  to  accept  your  call,  and  under  the 
Divine  favor  so  led  him  that  you  saw  him  face  to  face  in  November, 
1742. 

I  learn  from  the  Report  and  letters  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg  that  you 
and  the  congregations  have  given  him  a  joyful  welcome,  and  that  you 
acknowledge  the  grace  of  which  God  has  made  you  partakers.  If 
there  are  some  few  among  you  who  have  not  considered  these  matters 
as  seriously  as  is  meet,  and  who  by  failing  to  bring  forth  the  fruits  of 
true  repentance,  have  been  a  grief  to  their  pastor,  I  pray  that  they 
may  humble  themselves  in  godly  sorrow,  and  may  the  Lord  forgive 
them  for  having  thus  slighted  the  dealings  of  His  love  towards  them. 
Yet,  after  all,  I  rejoice  in  the  Lord  because  the  most  of  you  hold  your 
pastor  highly  in  honor  and  in  love,  and  have  given  proof  of  a  readiness 
to  learn  the  will  of  God  at  his  lips.  My  heart's  desire  is,  that  there 
may  not  be  one  of  you  who  will  be  satisfied  to  remain  a  mere  hearer 
of  the  word,  but  that  all  may  become  doers  of  the  same. 

Pastor  Muhlenberg,  who  takes  these  things  much  to  heart,  has  stated 
in  all  letters  that  the  congregations  are  so  large  and  are  located  at  such 
distances  from  each  other  that  the  services  of  one  pastor  are  far  from 
being  enough  to  meet  their  Avants.  Among  other  things  he  gives  me 
also  to  understand  that  it  is  the  wish  of  the  people  and  your  own  wish, 
that  other  men  should  be  sent  to  you  both  in  your  churches  and  in 
your  schools.  I  have  taken  pains  to  have  these  your  wishes  gratified. 
So,  although  in  this  country  and  in  other  parts  of  Germany,  ftiithful 
ministers  of  the  Gospel,  specially  those  trained  at  Halle,  are  in  such 
great  demand,  yet  behold,  by  the  help  of  God,  Mr.  Peter  Brunnholtz, 
now  here  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  well  established  in  the  personal 
knowledge  of  Christ,  having  recognized  the  will  of  God  in  it,  has  been 
found  willing  to  accept  the  call  to  become  your  pastor,  and  out  of 
sincere  love  for  your  congregations  and  concern  for  their  eternal  wel- 
fare is  ready  to  forsake  his  kindred  and  his  native  land  and  to  be  sent 
far  off  to  a  strange  country.  But  this  is  not  all.  In  addition  to  Mr. 
Brunnholtz,  two  students  of  theology  strong  in  the  love  of  Christ,  Mr. 
John  Helfrich  Schaum  and  Mr.  Nicholas  Kurtz,  both  now  with  us,  re- 
cognizing the  call  as  being  according  to  the  will  of  God,  have  accepted 
it  as  catechists  to  teach  your  youth  and  to  serve  you  in  your  schools.  I 
have. a  well  grounded  hope  of  these  new  laborers  in  the  Word  that  they 


142  APPENDIX   TO   FIRST   CONTIXUATIOX. 

will  show  all  good  fidelity  in  their  office,  each  one  in  his  separate 
position,  and  in  like  manner  I  have  full  confidence  in  you  my  worthy 
friends  and  in  your  associated  congregations,  that  you  will  receive  these 
ministers  with  loving  sincerity,  arid  deal  towards  them  as  gratitude  to 
God  requires  you  to  do.  Now,  I  shall  attempt  in  a  few  words  and  for 
your  better  information  to  present  several  things  concerning  their  cir- 
cumstances and  concerning  your  duty  towards  them. 

1.  Concerning  all  three  of  them,  you  may  be  assured,  not  only,  that 
they  will  keep  the  truth  in  a  good  conscience,  but  also,  that  they  come 
to  you  constrained  by  sincere  love  for  you  and  by  earnest  longing  for 
your  salvation.  Therefore  you  will  suffer  this  love  of  these  servants 
of  the  Lord,  yea,  the  love  of  God  Himself,  who  has  quickened  them 
with  such  zeal  for  your  welfare,  to  provoke  you  to  receive  them  with 
the  like  affection ;  you  will  live  in  peace  with  them,  and  for  the  Lord's 
sake,  show  yourselves  obliging,  in  all  reasonable  things.  Above  all, 
by  a  willing  obedience  to  God  and  to  His  Word,  which  they  will  preach 
to  you  and  to  your  children,  you  will  cheer  their  hearts,  so  that  they 
may  fulfil  their  office  among  you,  not  with  sorrow,  but  with  the  Divine 
blessing. 

2.  They  do  not  seek  yours,  nor  do  they  covet  a  superfluity  of  the 
things  of  this  world.  They  will  be  readily  satisfied  with  what  is  suffi- 
cient to  meet  their  necessities.  For  this  reason  then,  you  will  be  the 
more  willing,  without  constraint,  but  out  of  love,  and  of  a  ready  mind 
to  take  pains  to  supply  them  with  an  adequate  support.  They  require 
nothing  but  what  is  necessary ;  they  have  no  worldly  means  of  their 
own ;  you  will  therefore  see  to  it,  that  they  are  not  reduced  to  indigence, 
and  so  you  will  make  suitable  provision  for  their  maintenance,  accord- 
ing to  your  ability,  and  as  soon  as  possible.  Specially,  after  the  ex- 
pense occasioned  by  the  building  of  your  churches  shall  have  been,  in 
a  measure,  paid  off",  you  will  make  such  arrangements  for  the  support 
of  your  teachers  as  that  they  will  not  find  it  necessary  to  seek  a  tem- 
poral livelihood  by  pushing  themselves  into  such  undertakings  as  would 
interfere  with  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  pastoral  duty. 

3.  In  regard  to  your  future  preacher,  the  aforesaid  Mr.  Peter  Brunn- 
holtz,  particularly,  I  have  to  say  as  follows :  As  a  Christian  and  a  dili- 
gent student  in  the  University  in  this  place,  he  conducted  himself  and 
employed  his  time  in  such  a  manner  as  to  become  sufficiently  grounded 
in  the  knowledge  of  God  and  of  His  Word.  Then  afterwards,  he  was 
occupied  in  the  institutions  of  the  Orphanhouse,  here,  laboring  to  lead 
souls  to  Christ  and  showing  all  good  fidelity  both  to  the  young  and  to 
the  old.  Then,  next,  he  was  engaged  in  a  place  not  far  from  here, 
where  a  Christian  nobleman  took  great  interest  in  supporting  a  cate- 
chist,  for  the  better  instruction  of  the  youth  and  for  the  spiritual  bene- 
fit of  the  whole  congregation,  I  myself  having  recommended  him  to 
this  nobleman,  on  account  of  his  piety  and  his  talents.  In  this  last 
position  his  labors  and  his  preaching  of  the  Word  were  often  blessed  to 


APPENDIX    TO    FIPtST    CONTIXUATION.  143 

tlie  edification  of  the  church.  So,  there  can  be  no  doubt  about  his 
qualifications  and  his  faithfulness,  of  Mhich  indeed,  ample  evidence 
was  given  when  he  took  his  departure. 

4.  As  he  had  been  held  in  such  high  esteem  by  the  aforesaid  noble- 
man and  by  the  congregation  in  that  place,  beyond  all  his  predecessors, 
that  they  would  gladly  have  retained  him  longer  in  their  employ,  and 
showed  their  love  by  shedding  many  tears  at  his  departure ;  these  cir- 
cumstances afford  a  proof  of  his  tried  fidelity,  and  furnish  so  much 
more  reason  to  hope  that  your  congregation  will  give  him  their  full 
confidence  and  their  sincere  affection. 

5.  He  himself  gives  a  proof  of  his  own  self-denial  and  of  his  love 
to  you,  in  the  fact  of  his  undertaking  so  troublesome  a  journey,  and 
one  which,  at  this  time,  is  specially  dangerous,  on  account  of  the  many 
disturbances  arising  from  the  prevailing  war;  for  he  would  not  have 
failed  to  enjoy  certain  promotion  in  his  office  in  Germany. 

6.  At  your  own  request  he  has  been  regularly  called ;  and  not  only 
have  I  myself  given  him  adequate  proof  of  this,  but  he  has  also  been 
regularly  set  apart  and  ordained  to  the  office  of  the  holy  ministry, 
with  prayer  and  the  laying  on  of  hands,  by  a  Consistory  of  the  Church. 
In  his  vocation,  however,  the  Hand  of  God  also  has  been  manifestly 
working  in  divers  remarkable  ways.  For,  not  only  were  all  those  who 
knew  him,  and  understood  the  condition  of  your  congregations,  unani- 
mously in  favor  of  his  appointment,  but  God  Himself  deeply  convinced 
his  heart  that  such  was  the  Divine  will,  and  besides,  inclined  his  rela- 
tives to  acquiesce  in  his  acceptance  of  the  call.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
speak  of  any  other  indications  of  Divine  Providence  in  the  matter. 
Now,  from  all  this  you  may  easily  infer  that  God  has  thoughts  of 
peace  towards  you ;  since,  amidst  so  many  providential  indications,  he 
has  raised  up  the  second  teacher  for  you ;  and  so  Himself  entreats  you 
by  both  of  them,  "  be  ye  reconciled  to  God."  My  heart's  desire  is,  that 
all  the  congregations  together  may  take  good  heed,  that  they  do  not  re- 
sist this  Grace  of  God,  nor  wilfully  Avaste  this  accepted  time,  this  day 
of  salvation ;  that  there  may  not  be  one  among  you  who  will  not  accept 
this  gracious  call  of  God  with  his  whole  heart.  You  knoAv  well  in- 
deed, from  your  own  experience,  what  a  distressing  judgment  it  is  upon 
a  land,  when  God  sends  upon  it  a  hunger  and  a  thirst  for  His  Word; 
and  so  you  should  the  more  highly  value  that  Grace  that  now  sends 
forth  the  Word  to  be  so  freely  preached  among  you,  and  not,  by  your 
neglect  of  it,  put  it  away  from  you  again. 

7.  What  has  been,  thus  far,  said  about  Mr.  Brunnholtz,  may  like- 
wise be  said,  according  to  their  several  circumstances,  of  the  two  cate- 
chists.  I  can  also  testify  on  their  behalf,  that  their  desire  is  to  walk 
uprightly  with  God  and'  before  men ;  that  they  will  not  covet  what  is 
yours,  but  will  seek  the  glory  of  Jesus  Christ;  that  they  have  been 
well  trained  in  the  art  of  teaching  the  young  in  our  institutions  in  this 
city,  not  only  attaining  fine  gifts  and  aptitude,  but  also,  what  is  much 


144  APPENDIX    TO    FIEST    CONTINUATION. 

better,  sho^ving  all  good  fidelity  in  their  work.  You  should  therefore 
esteem  it  uo  small  token  of  the  Grace  of  God  that  He  takes  pity  upon 
your  children  also,  and  sends  you  faithful  workmen  to  teach  your  chil- 
dren the  knowledge  of  God.  This  is  a  blessing  which  you  have  not 
hitherto  enjoyed;  and  if  the  Lord  had  not  remembered  you  in  good 
time,  your  children  must  have  sunk  into  heathenism.  It  is  therefore 
the  duty  of  all  Christian  parents  to  take  good  heed,  that  the  work  of 
the  catechists  among  the  children  may  not  be  hindered,  nor  rendered 
painful ;  much  rather,  they  should  lend  them  a  helping  hand,  so  that 
their  children,  under  the  Divine  blessing  may  grow  up  as  trees  of 
righteousness,  to  the  glory  of  God. 

This  and  everything  efse  that  respects  your  duty  to  all  your  teachers 
is  laid  down,  very  clearly,  in  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  13:  17,  and 
in  other  passages ;  upon  which  you  should  often  meditate. 

Further,  I  very  seriously  admonish  you  not  to  take  up  with  everyone 
who  comes  in  his  own  name,  professing  to  be  a  teacher.  You  know 
from  experience,  how  often  you  have  been  deceived  by  such  persons. 
Nothing  is  more  certain  than  this,  that  those  persons  who,  without  a 
regular  call,  push  themselves  into  the  office  of  teacher,  are  always  seek- 
ing to  make  gain  out  of  you,  and  either  have  been  deposed  from  the 
paltoral  office  in  Germany,  as  were  Mr.  Kraft  and  Mr.  Andrews,  of 
whose  scandalous  lives  I  have  obtained  and  sent  to  you  convincing 
evidence,  or  they  were  not  fit  to  be  trusted   with  the  care  of  anything. 

In  conclusion ;  As  God  has  already,  in  a  very  large  degree,  lightened 
the  burden  of  expense  incurred  by  the  building  of  your  churches  and 
by  the  journeys  of  your  pastors  and  catechists,  with  the  benevolent 
contributions  that  have  flowed  from  many  Christian  hearts,  I  assure 
you  that  I  shall  very  willingly  do  my  part  to  encourage  the  continu- 
ance of  these  collections.  Yet,  I  would  have  you  remember  that,  even 
in  this  matter,  everything  depends  upon  the  blessing  of  the  Lord,  and 
that  according  to  your  treatment  of  your  teachers  you  Avill  either  ob- 
tain that  blessing  or  drive  it  away  from  you. 

Now,  may  the  Lord  help  these  new  assistants,  all  through  their  dan- 
gerous journey,  under  His  own  protection,  and  that  of  His  holy  angels; 
convey  them  safely  to  your  own  home,  and  send  them  prosperity  in  the 
work  of  building  up  the  Divine  Kingdom  amongst  you. 

So  then,  my  worthy  friends  and  all  the  congregations,  I  commend 
you  to  the  gracious  protection  and  favor  of  God,  and  to  His  Word ; 
ever  remaining  ready  to  help  you  hereafter,  in  all  things,  according  to 
my  ability. 

[G.  A.  Francke.] 


APPENDIX   TO    FIRST   CONTINUATION.  145 

XVIII. 

Ziegenhagen,  to  the  congregations  in  America,  Sept.  13th,  1744.* 
To  the  deacons  and  elders  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Churches  in 
Philadelphia,  Germantown,  New  Hanover  and  Providence,  and  to  the 
several  congregations,  Grace  and  Peace  from  God  our  Father,  and  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour. 

My  Worthy  Friends  in  the  Lord! 

With  much  joy  of  heart  and  sincere  gratitude  to  God,  I  have  learned, 
from  letters  and  reports  addressed  to  me  by  your  Pastor  Muhlenberg, 
that  after  a  journey  somewhat  protracted  and  exhausting,  he  arrived 
amoiigst  you  safely,  at  last ;  and  that  after  he  had  submitted  his  cre- 
dentials to  your  examination,  you  received  him  with  hearty  good  will, 
and  practical  j)roofs  of  your  aftection,  as  your  regular  pastor.  He  has, 
indeed,  spoken  of  various  difficulties  he  has  met  with,  amongst  you, 
for  it  is  true  of  all  things,  that  their  beginnings  are  hard ;  but  at  the 
same  time,  he  has  stated  that,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  he  has  met  with 
many  Christian  people  among  you,  who  heartily  and  faithfully  co-oper- 
ate with  him  and  with  his  office,  so  that  he  hopes  to  begin  and  to  con- 
tinue his  ministry  amongst  you  and  in  your  neighborhood,  prosecuting 
his  work  in  peace  and  quietness,  and  with  the  blessing  of  God. 

Kow,  my  worthy  friends,  all  that  you  have,  so  far,  done  for  your  pas- 
tor and  his  office,  is  simply,  what  your  Christian  duty  and  your  own 
consciences  demanded  of  you ;  and  the  result  of  it  will  be  of  great 
advantage  and  benefit,  specially  to  yourselves,  and  to  the  congrega- 
tions of  which  you  are  the  officers. 

Meanwhile,  I  cannot,  myself,  refrain  from  offering  you  my  hearty 
thanks,  particularly,  because,  as  Pastor  Muhlenberg  informs  me,  you 
esteem  me  so  highly  in  love  and  confidence,  and  received  my  last  letter 
with  so  much  kindliness.  By  all  this,  my  dear  friends,  you  have  re- 
freshed my  heart,  and  encouraged  me  anew  to  help  you  and  your  con- 
gregations to  the  best  of  my  ability.  Would  to  God,  that  I  could  do 
a  great  deal  in  supplying  you  with  faithful  teachers,  and  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  requisite '  churches  and  schoolhouses !  But  alas !  it  is  only 
very  little  that  I  can  do  in  this  direction ;  and  may  the  God  of  all 
Grace  bless  even  this,  though  it  be  so  small,  and  make  it  useful  in  pro- 
moting your  true  salvation ! 

Now,  I  rejoice  greatly,  my  beloved  friends,  that  the  God  and  Father 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  again  remembered  you  in  so  much  mercy, 
and,  even  in  these  trying  times  of  destructive  war,  has  so  ordered  it, 


*  Although  Zie,2;enlia,2:en  is  entitled  to  such  hijjh  praise  for  his  eminent  services 
in  tlie  interest  of  the  Lutheran  Cliurch  in  America,  yet  it  appears,  that^  compara- 
tively little  that  he  wrote  has  been  preserved  here.  For  this  reason  it  may^  be 
welfto  print  the  following  letter,  although  its  contents  may  not  be  so  very  im- 
portant.-— Dr.  Germann,  of  Windsheini,  Bavaria. 
10 


146  APPENDIX   TO   FIRST   CONTINUATION. 

that  three  persons  have  willingly  resolved  in  God's  name  and  out  of 
love  to  you,  to  go  to  your  country,  and  to  devote  themselves  to  the  ser- 
vice of  you  and  of  your  children,  laboring  for  the  salvation  of  your 
souls.  These  very  persons  will,  the  Lord  permitting,  themselves,  de- 
liver this  letter  to  you.  Their  names  are :  Mr.  Peter  Brunnholtz,  regu- 
larly called  and  ordained  pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congre- 
gations in  Philadelphia,  Germantown,  New  Hanover  and  Providence; 
5lr.  John  Helfrich  Schaum,  and  Mr.  John  Nicolas  Kurtz,  regularly 
called  and  authorized  to  serve  as  cathechists  in  the  aforesaid  congrega- 
tions. Whatever  is  to  be  said  about  these  men,  and  about  each  one  of 
them,  in  respect  to  their  Christian  experience  and  life,  and  also,  in  re- 
pect  to  their  qualifications  for  the  offices  to  which  they  have  been 
called,  all  this  has  recently  been  presented,  and  in  full,  by  the  Kev. 
Prof  Dr.  Francke,  of  Halle,  in  a  special  document  which  Mr.  Peter 
Brunnholtz  will  himself  convey  to  you ;  and  upon  this  subject,  it  is 
therefore  unnecessary  for  me  to  add  anything  more.  Besides,  he  has 
been  longer  acquainted  and  more  intimate  with  them  than  I  have  been, 
for  which  reason  his  testimony  has  more  weight  than  mine  could  have. 
It  is  Dr.  Francke  himself  who  has  been  the  instrument  in  the  hand  of 
God  in  selecting  these  men  who  are  to  serve  you  and  your  children,  in 
calling  them  and  in  arranging  their  ordination  and  their  passage  to 
England.  So  far,  I  myself  have  had  no  share  in  the  work,  and  could 
have  none.  Dr.  Francke's  heart  is  full  of  paternal  love  and  concern 
for  you  all,  —  and  among  many  other  proofs  of  it,  it  is  clearly  shown 
in  the  fact,  that  he  is  so  deeply  interested  in  the  church  building  that 
has  been  begun  by  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  in  providing  money  for  the 
great  expenses  of  the  same,  and  in  giving  his  help  in  all  possible  ways, 
to  assist  you  to  bear  your  burdens.  I  speak  of  these  things  here,  pur- 
posely, in  order  that  I  may  stir  up  your  hearts  to  sincere  thankfulness 
to  God  for  having  inspired  Dr.  Francke  Avith  such  love  for  you,  and  at 
the  same  time,  to  afford  you  occasion  to  recognize  for  yourselves,  what 
strong  reasons  you,  as  well  as  many  other  people,  have  to  j^raise  God 
for  this  excellent  man,  both  in  public  and  in  private,  as  your  distin- 
guished benefactor,  and  to  entreat  that  long  life  may  be  his.  If  it 
should  please  God  to  call  me  away  from  earth  in  a  short  time,  that 
would  be  of  no  disadvantage  either  to  you  or  to  your  congregations, 
for  the  little  that  I  can  do  might,  by  the  Divine  help,  be  very  easily 
done  by  some  one  else.  But  if  Dr.  Francke  should  soon  be  called 
away,  the  loss  even  for  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations  in 
Pennsylvania  would  be  a  very  serious  one.  Therefore  do  not  cease  to 
pray  to  our  Father  in  Heaven  for  the  life  and  health  of  your  beloved 
benefactor  and  for  the  Divine  blessing  upon  his  Avork ;  strive  also  to 
live  that  he  may  be  cheered  in  heart  by  hearing  of  the  prosj^erity  of 
your  congregations ;  for  if  his  anxious  efforts  do  not  result  in  building 
up  Christianity  among  you,  you  cannot  expect  that  he  will  continue 
this  laborious  work.     I  have  confidence  enough  in  you,  my  worthy 


APPENDIX   TO    FIRST   CONTINUATION.  147 

friends,  to  trust,  that  as  you  have  done  in  other  things,  so  in  this  matter 
also,  you  will  receive  this  my  request  and  exhortation  into  a  good  and 
honest  heart. 

Now,  let  me  say  something  more  about  the  three  men  who  are  about 
to  be  sent  off  to  you,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  at  this  time.  O,  may 
our  gracious  God  and  Father  take  them  into  His  almighty  protection, 
deliver  them  from  all  evil,  from  all  enemies  upon  the  sea,  and  conduct 
them  to  you,  safe  and  sound,  full  of  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel.  I  do 
not  doubt  but  that  you  will  receive  them  in  love,  even  as  you  received 
Pastor  Muhlenberg,  that  you  will  thank  God  for  their  arrival,  that 
you  will  hold  them  in  honor,  and  according  to  your  ability,  aid  them 
in  everything  in  which  they  may  need  your  assistance.  Certainly,  they 
are  highly  worthy  of  such  loving  reception  and  co-operation ;  for,  not 
only  are  they  excellent  men  themselves,  coming  to  you  with  a  regular 
call,  and  with  their  hearts  willing  and  anxious  to  confirm  you  and  your 
children  in  the  saving  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  thereby  to  secure 
your  eternal  welfare;  but  also,  beyond  this,  out  of  true  love  to  you 
they  have  submitted  to  many  hardships  and  have  boldly  faced  no  ordin- 
ary dangers,  and  all  for  your  sake.  May  the  faithful  God  who  has  in- 
clined the  hearts  of  these  His  servants  towards  you,  also  incline  your 
hearts  towards  them,  and  specially  incline  you  so  to  apply  the  doctrines 
of  the  Word,  its  teachings,  its  admonitions,  its  consolations,  which  they 
may  impart  to  you  and  to  your  children,  in  such  a  way,  as  to  secure 
the  highest  good,  the  eternal  salvation  of  your  souls. 

Even  as  Dr.  Francke  has  done  in  his  own  letter  addressed  to  you,  so 
I  too,  would  particularly  entreat  of  you  that  you  be  truly  united  in 
heart  with  your  teachers  Pastor  Muhlenberg  and  Mr.  Brunnholtz,  re- 
sisting and  opposing  whatever  is  ungodly  and  unchristian,  so  that  the 
Evangelical  congregations  in  Pennsylvania  may  not  be  like  a  desert  or 
a  field  overrun  with  briars  and  thorns,  but  rather,  fruitful  and  beautiful 
as  the  garden  of  the  Lord. 

Further,  as  to  those  people  who  seek  to  pass  themselves  oiF  as  preach- 
ers, but  who  have  never  been  regularly  sent  to  preach,  who  roam,  ac- 
cording to  their  own  fancy,  from  country  to  country,  in  quest  of  a 
living,  I  beg  you,  do  not  permit  such  characters  to  force  themselves 
into  your  congregations,  to  occasion  divisions  and  work  mischief  in 
other  ways.  Be  only  the  more  ready  to  uphold  your  own  regular 
teachers,  so  that  all  disorder,  disturbance  and  divisions  may  be  pre- 
vented ;  and  even  be  healed  wherever  they  may  already  have  broken 
out.  The  admonition  of  the  Apostle  St.  John,  1st  Ep.,  4th  Chap.,  "Be- 
loved, believe  not  every  spirit,  but  try  the  spirits  whether  they  are  of 
God,"  concerns  every  Christian  congregation.  St.  John  also  tells  us, 
why  such  proving  is  necessary,  for  he  says,  that  many  false  prophets, 
claiming  to  be  teachers  sent  of  God,  but  whom  God  has  not  sent,  have 
gone  out  into  the  world,  and  do  great  harm  to  people  when  they  are 
careless  and  do  not  stand  upon  their  guard.     You  will  take  this  the 


148  APPENDIX    TO    FIPvST    COXTIXUATIOX. 

more  to  heart,  my  dear  friends,  because,  you  know  yourselves,  that  in 
the  land  and  regions  where  you  live  errorists  and  false  prophets  are  not 
scarce.  Hold  fast  to  the  pure  and  saving  \Yord  of  God,  as  it  is  con- 
tained in  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  be  not  tossed  about  with  every  Avind  of 
doctrine;  love  your  teachers  and  be  obedient,  for  they  will  preach 
nothing  to  you  but  the  pure  Word  of  God. 

Out  of  love  to  you  and  to  your  children,  I  send  to  you  also,  with 
this  letter,  a  short  and  simple  explanation  of  the  Christian  faith.  I 
hope  that  after  you  shall  have  conferred  upon  it  with  your  teachers, 
you  may  possibly  wish  to  have  it  printed,  specially  for  the  use  of  your 
children  in  the  schools.  In  such  case,  I  have  to  beg  very  particularly, 
that  you  will  not  allow  either  the  printer  or  any  other  j)erson  whoever 
he  may  be,  only  excepting  your  teachers,  to  change  the  smallest  word, 
or  to  substitute  another  word  in  place  of  it. 

May  the  gracious  God  bestow  His  blessing  upon  the  old  and  the 
young,  so  that  the  reading  and  learning  of  this  explanation  may  serve 
to  plant,  to  revive,  to  strengthen  the  true  saving  faith  and  the  powers 
of  genuine  Christianity  amongst  you.  And  now,  with  my  whole  heart, 
and  assuring  you  of  my  steadfast  love,  I  commend  you  all,  deacons, 
elders,  the  congregations,  the  parents,  the  youth  and  the  children,  to 
the  love  of  God  the  Father,  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
the  mighty  working  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Pray  also  for  me. 

You  will  take  measures  to  have  this  letter  read  to  the  congregations. 

Fr.  Mich.  Ziegenhagen. 
Kensington,  Sept.  13th,  1744. 


|^..3^ 


SECOND  CONTINUATION 

OF   THE   BRIEF   REPORT   OF   CERTAIN 

EVANGELICAL  CONGREGATIONS 


PENNSYLVANIA  AND  NEIGHBORING  PARTS 
IN  AMERICA. 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  ORPHAN  HOUSE,  HALLE,  1746. 


(42)  1.  It  may  be  remembered  that,  as  was  stated  in  the  first  Re- 
port and  its  subsequent  Continuation,  both  already  published,  the 

Lord  had  some  years  ago  begun  a  gracious  work  on  behalf  of  certain 
Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  especially  in 
Philadelphia,  Germantown,^  Providence  and  New  Hanover,  providing 
them  with  regular  ministers  of  the  Word  and  causing  the  light  of  his 
truth  to  shine  forth  upon  them.  For  not  only  did  Mr.  Henry  Mel- 
chior  Muhlenberg,  the  first  pastor  regularly  called  to  the  work,  enter 
into  the  field  of  his  labors  on  Nov.  25th,  1742 ;  but  also,  Mr.  Peter 
Brunnholtz,  the  second  pastor,  and  with  him,  the  two  assistants,  Mr. 
Schaum  and  Mr.  Kurtz,  having  been  sent  to  co-operate  with  Muhlen- 
berg, arrived  in  Pennsylvania  on  January  26th,  1745.  It  will  be  re- 
membered also,  with  what  earnestness  of  heart  they  labored  to  restore 
and  maintain  a  good  Christian  order  in  the  congregations ;  and  that, 
under  the  Divine  Favor,  they  w^ere  so  successful,  that  many  persons 
who  had  previously  separated  themselves  from  the  fellowship  of  the 
Church  have  already  come  back  again ;  and  some  of  them,  with  their 
wives  and  their  children,  have  been  baptized. 

2.  Although  detailed  accounts  of  the  progress  of  this  gracious  work 
have  not  reached  us  as  regularly  as  we  would  have  wished,  in 

(43)  consequence  of  the  uncertainties  incident  to  a  voyage  across  the 
ocean  ;  yet  the  frequent  inquiries  that  we  have  heard  on  the  part 

of  good  friends  of  the  cause  have  encouraged  us  to  prepare  another 
Continuation  of  our  Report,  from  the  materials  furnished  in  the  last 
letters  and  statements  that  have  reached  us.  We  do  this  both  as  an 
expression  of  gratitude  and  praise  to  God  for  His  Mercies,  and  in  the 

(149) 


150  SECOND   CONTINUATION    OF   BRIEF   REPORT   OF   CERTAIN 

hope  that  our  friends  aud  benefactors  will  be  gratified  with  the  brief 
accounts  which  we  furnish. 

Observing  a  suitable  order  we  shall  notice — 1st,  the  official  labors  of 
the  two  pastors  and  their  assistants ;  2d,  the  blessing  that  has  attended 
the  preached  Word,  the  genuine  fruits  of  the  pastoral  work,  with  sun- 
dry illustrative  cases  and  incidents ;  3d,  the  building  of  the  churches ; 
and  4th,  the  desires  expressed  by  several  congregations  in  Fenn'sylva- 
nia  and  adjacent  parts  to  secure  the  services  of  faithful  pastors. 

3.  As  to  the  official  labors  of  the  two  pastors  and  their  assistants,  we 
have  stated  already  in  the  first  Continuation,  that  until  the  time  of  the 
arrival  of  the  new  assistants,  Pastor  Muhlenberg  attended  to  the  charge 
of  the  four  congregations,  himself  alone ;  also  that  Pastor  Brunnholtz 
was  afterwards  regularly  received  by  these  four  congregations  as  their 
second  pastor ;  and  further,  that  the  two  pastors,  at  first,  by  regular 
appointments,  preached  around  in  all  the  churches,  waiting  to  see  if, 
in  the  course  of  time,  such  indications  of  Providence  would  arrive  as 
might  encourage  and  enable  them  to  make  such  a  division  of  the  entire 
charge  that  each  pastor  might  take  his  special  portion  under  his  own 
direct  personal  care. 

After  they  had  carefully  observ^ed  all  the  circumstances  relating  to 
the  matter  they  finally  agreed  in  June,  1745,  and  with  the  full  appro- 
bation of  the  congregations  themselves,  that  Pastor  Muhlenberg  should 
take  special  charge  of  the  congregations  in  Providence  and  New  Han- 
over ;  and  that  his  regular  residence  should  be  fixed  in  the  former  place. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  special  care  of  the  congregations  in  Philadel- 
phia and  Germantown  fell  to  the  lot  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz,  whose  per- 
manent home  is  in  Philadelphia.  In  connection  with  this  arrangement 
it  was  perfectly  understood,  by  both  pastors,  that  each  one  of  them 
should  still  continue  to  be  heartily  concerned  for  the  welfare  of  the 
congregations  that  were  in  charge  of  the  other,  and  that  neither  of 
them  should  undertake  anything  of  imjoortance,  in  his  own  charge, 
without  first  having  advised  with  the  other.  In  fact,  there  are  occa- 
sions on  which  they  do  come  together  in  fraternal  conference, 
(44)  considering  and  determining  their  course  of  action  in  the  true 
spirit  of  loving  harmony.  ^ 

4.  In  their  preaching  they  are  very  careful  to  consider  the  capacity 
of  their  hearers,  accommodating  their  sermons  to  the  circumstances  of 
the  people,  so  that  they  may  be  the  more  certain  to  effect  substantial 
good.  As  an  illustration  of  this  we  may  state,  that  for  some  time  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  assistants.  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  immediately  after 
preaching,  would  recapitulate  his  sermons,  in  the  form  of  questions  ad- 


EVANGELICAL   CONGREGATIONS   IN   AMERICA.  151 

dressed  to  his  hearers  and  answers  obtained  from  them.  This  he  found 
to  be  a  very  useful  exercise.  Neither  do  they  content  themselves  with 
the  mere  public  preaching  of  the  Word,  but  seek  occasion  to  bring  it 
home  directly  to  the  hearts  of  their  hearers.  For  this  reason  they 
gladly  welcome  the,  visits  of  the  people  giving  them  personal  instruc- 
tion in  the  Word  of  God,  according  to  their  individual  circumstances ; 
and,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  and  giving  the  needed  admonition 
and  exhortation  to  those  who  may  desire  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, they  have  them  to  visit  the  pastor  in  his  residence  sometime  during 
the  previous  week.  Besides,  they  themselves  visit  the  people,  as  much 
as  possible,  from  house  to  house.  Pastor  Brunnholtz,  especially,  has 
endeavored,  by  such  visitation,  to  become  personally  acquainted  with 
the  people  of  his  charge.  Special  care  has  been  taken  to  visit  the  sick ; 
and  as  epidemics  have  prevailed  on  several  occasions  in  Providence 
and  New  Hanover,  this  occupied  a  great  deal  of  time,  although  it  was 
not  without  a  blessing.  This  added  very  much  to  the  burden  of  the 
pastor's  labors,  because  the  members  of  the  churches  often  reside  at 
great  distances  apart,  scattered  through  the  country,  upon  their  farms, 
sometimes  12  or  16  miles  from  the  pastor's  residence,  for  which  reason 
the  pastor  has  to  keep  a  horse,  to  enable  him  to  reach  the  distant  mem- 
bers of  his  church,  as  promptly  as  possible,  Avhenever  they  may  require 
his  personal  pastoral  care. 

For  the  sake  of  those  who  live  so  remote  from  the  church  that  they 
cannot  regularly  attend  themselves  nor  bring  their  children  along  with 
them,  public  service  is  sometimes  held  on  a  week  day,  in  some  con- 
venient place,  so  that  they  too  may  be  instructed  and  edified  by  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel.  About  twenty  miles  from  New  Hanover 
there  is  a  small  congregation  in  possession  of  a  church  whom  Pastor 
Muhlenberg,  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  Kurtz,  visit  and  serve  in  the 
(45)  Gospel  every  four  weeks  f  whilst  there  are  other  places  for  pub- 
lic worship  in  the  same  neighborhood.  As  we  continue  on  in  our 
Report  we  shall  have  occasion  to  relate  more  fully,  how,  without  in 
any  manner  neglecting  the  care  of  their  own  flocks,  they  are  ever  ready 
to  render  all  possible  service  to  those  congregations  which  are,  as  yet, 
unprovided  with  pastors. 

5.  As  to  the  labors  of  the  assistants  we  have  to  remark,  that  the  ar- 
rangement agreed  upon  at  first  and  reported  in  our  first  Continuation 
is  still  maintained,  that  is,  Mr.  Schaum  resides  in  Philadelphia  and  Mr. 
Kurtz  in  New  Hanover.  In  Philadelphia,  and  until  the  time  of  their 
arrival,  Pastor  Muhlenberg  had  employed  a  young  man  as  schoolmas- 
ter, whom  Pastor  Brunnholtz  kept  under  immediate  personal  instruc- 


152  SECOND    CONTINUATION    OF    BRIEF    REPORT    OF    CERTAIN 

tion  for  several  weeks,  so  as  to  prepare  him  the  more  thoroughly  for 
his  work,  expecting  afterwards  to  engage  his  services  as  a  teacher  in 
other  places.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia  Mr.  Schaum  took 
charge  of  this  school  at  once,  and  now  has  his  home  in  the  residence  of 
Pastor  Brunnholtz  in  that  city.  His  school  being  held  in  the  same 
house,  his  work  is  carried  on  under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  pastor 
himself,  who  testifies  that  he  is  doing  much  good  to  many  people  by 
his  own  personal  earnestness  as  a  Christian,  as  well  as  by  his  faithful- 
ness as  a  teacher  of  the  young.  In  addition  to  this.  Pastor  Brunnholtz 
occupies  his  evenings  in  giving  lessons  in  reading  and  writing  to  grown 
persons  wdiose  earlier  education  had  been  neglected. 

6.  In  New  Hanover,  Mr.  Vigera,*  who  is  repeatedly  spoken  of  in  the 
Reports  of  the  Salzburgers  at  Ebenezer,  taught  the  school  in  the  new 
schoolhouse,  to  the  satisfaction  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg;  and  on  Sun- 
days, when  the  pastor  was  absent,  he  rendered  a  service  acceptable  to 
the  congregation  by  reading  some  edifying  discourse  in  the  church. 
For  some  short  time  after  Mr.  Kurtz  had  taken  charge  of  this  school, 
Mr.  Vigera  continued  to  co-operate  with  him ;  but  finally  concluded  to 
open  a  school  for  himself  in  some  other  place.  Nevertheless,  in  the 
mean  time,  he  offered  to  assist  the  pastor  in  instructing  the  catechu- 
mens, or  in  any  other  way  in  which  he  could  be  useful.  In  addition 
to  this  work  in  the  schools,  the  two  assistants  preach  every  Sunday  in 

those  congregations  which  the  pastors  cannot  themselves  attend ; 
(46)  and  so  changing  with  them  from  Sunday  to  Sunday.     For  this 

reason  the  people  call  them  helpers,^  a  term  not  unfamiliar  to 
us.  It  is  about  the  same  as  substitute.  In  a  word,  the  pastors  testify 
respecting  both  of  the  assistants ;  that  in  their  office  and  work  they  are 
faithful  and  true ;  and  that  the  congregations  are  truly  thankful  that 
these  men  have  been  called  to  their  office  and  sent  forth  to  their  work. 
Further,  Pastor  Muhlenberg  seems  to  regard  it  as  a  blessing  of  Divine 
Providence,  that  he  has  found  a  promising  young  man  whom  he  can 
employ  for  the  instruction  of  the  youth,  under  his  own  personal  super- 
vision.^ 

7.  Seeing  what  a  privilege  it  is  that  they  not  only  have  regular  pas- 
tors, but  are  provided  also  with  faithful  schoolmasters  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  their  children,  many  of  whom  had  previously  grown  up  Avithout 
any  education,  the  congregations  are  sincerely  thankful  to  God  and  to 
their  benefactors  in  Europe,  both  for  having  sent  these  pastors  and 
teachers  to  them  and  for  having  so  generously  defrayed  all  the  ex- 
penses of  their  voyage.  Indeed,  they  appreciate  these  blessings  the 
more  as  they  come  more  clearly  to  understand  how  sincere  and  faith- 


EVANGELICAL    CONGREGATIONS    IN    AMEEICA.  153 

ful  their  teachers  are,  how  earnestly  they  labor  for  the  true  and  last- 
ing welfare  of  the  people,  and  how  patient  and  persevering  they  are 
under  all  their  toils.  They  have  not  only  requested  their  pastors  to 
convey  to  us  the  expressions  of  their  gratitude,  but  several  of  the  elders 
themselves  have  transmitted  to  us  a  courteous  communication  in  testi- 
mony of  the  thankfulness  of  the  people.  In  this  communication,  speak- 
ing for  themselves  and  for  the  several  congregations,  they  thankfully 
acknowledge  the  kindness  of  the  Court  Preacher  Ziegenhagen,  in  Lon- 
don, of  Prof  Dr.  Francke,  in  Halle,  and  of  all  their  friends  and  bene- 
factors, because,  in  the  time  of  their  need,  they  had  come  to  their  help 
in  such  a  faithful,  such  a  fatherly  way,  not  only  supplying  them  with 
competent  pastors  and  teachers,  but  also  adding  contributions,  in  money, 
towards  the  building  of  churches  and  schoolhouses,  the  receipt  of  which 
they  formally  acknowledge.  They  thank  God  for  these  blessings ;  and 
pray  that  He  who  does  not  allow  a  cup  of  cold  water  to  go  without  its 
reward,  may,  in  His  faithfulness,  richly  recompense  all  who  have  shown 
kindness  to  them  in  their  need. 

Beyond  this  they  pray,  not  only  that  we  may  still  continue  to  help  • 

them,  but  also,  that  whenever  it  may  be  necessary,  their  pastors 
(47)  and  teachers  may  have  the  benefit  of  our  prayers,  our  counsel  and 

our  sympathy,  of  all  of  which  they  stand  so  much  in  need,  be- 
cause, as  faithful  and  upright  men,  they  have  to  submit  to  many  as- 
saults and  trials.  Such  intercession  and  sympathy  will  serve  to  renew 
their  courage,  and  strengthen  them  for  the  patient  and  efficient  dis- 
charge of  their  official  duties.  One  of  the  most  barefaced  slanderers 
and  calumniators  is  the  man  referred  to  in  our  first  Continuation,  as 
having  been  deposed  from  the  pastoral  office  in  Germany ;  who  still 
keeps  on  increasing  his  own  infamy  by  all  kinds  of  abuse.  ^  Also,  the 
man  mentioned  in  our  first  Keport,  as  having,  likewise,  been  deposed 
in  Germany,  who,  before  Muhlenberg's  arrival,  had  worked  himself 
into  Philadelphia,  seems  to  be  on  good  terms  with  the  slanderer  just 
described ;  but  otherwise  he  behaves,  upon  the  Avhole,  somewhat  quietly 
in  his  own  congregations.  In  their  congregations  they  are  not  much 
annoyed  by  the  Moravians ;  as  these  people  never  had  much  opportu- 
nity to  work  among  them ;  in  other  places,  however,  they  seem  to  keep 
busy.® 

8.  We  proceed  now  to  speak  of  the  blessing  that  has  attended  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel,  the  genuine  fruits  of  the  pastoral  work,  with 
sundry  illustrative  cases  and  incidents.  This  is,  indeed,  a  very  impor- 
tant subject,  cheering  to  the  heart  of  the  Christain  teacher,  and  often, 
an  occasion  of  praise  to  God,  to  whom  all  praise  belongs. 


154        SECOND    CONTINUATION    OF    BRIEF    REPORT    OF    CERTAIN 

The  pastors  report  that  they  are  deeply  conscious  of  their  own  per- 
sonal weakness  in  their  work ;  and  that  difficulties  and  disorders  that 
present  themselves  in  the  way  are  not  to  be  overcome  and  corrected  all 
at  once.  They  strive,  however,  to  be  only  the  more  diligent  and  un- 
tiring in  the  preaching  of  the  Word,  of  the  good  fruits  of  which  they 
have  had  very  striking  proof;  each  one  of  them  noticing,  with  special 
interest,  the  success  with  w^hich  God  has  blest  the  labors  of  the  other. 
In  a  letter  dated  Nov.  1st,  1745,  Pastor  Muhlenberg  returns  his  thanks 
for  the  appointment  and  sending  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz,  and  then  adds : 
"He  accommodates  himself  admirably  to  existing  circumstances.  He 
takes  heed  unto  himself  and  unto  the  doctrine ;  and  is  faithful  in  his 
care  of  the  poor  sheep.  The  Grace  of  God  is  made  perfect  in  his 
weakness ;  and  by  that  Grace  he  is  able  both  to  suffer  and  to  contend 
for  the  faith,  to  bear  honor  or  dishonor,  evil  report  or  good  report. 

The  Lord  has  granted  him  a  good  entering  in  among  us;  and 
(48)  has  crowned  his  labors  with  a  blessing.     This  is  a  great  joy  to 

me;  and  my  hope  is,  that  after  patiently  persevering  in  the 
preaching  of  the  Word  everything  will,  by  the  Divine  help,  be  ar- 
ranged, in  due  time,  in  proper  order."  In  other  letters  he  speaks  to 
the  same  effect. 

Pastor  Brunnholtz  bears  similar  testimony  to  the  labors  of  Muhlen- 
berg, stating  that  the  happy  influence  of  his  ministry  was  manifest  not 
only  before  his  arrival,  but  also,  that  by  his  personal  intercourse  with 
the  people,  he  had  met  with  many  who  had  informed  him,  that  they 
had  been  awakened  by  Muhlenberg's  preaching.  Eeferring  to  this 
subject,  in  general,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  dated  Dec.  9th,  1745,  he 
says:  "The  letters  that  have  been  sent  from  here  will  probably  be 
submitted  to  your  inspection,  and  you  will  then  have  an  opportunity 
to  learn  what  is  to  be  said  about  the  progress  of  the  Kingdom  of  God 
in  these  parts.  You  will  see  many  signs  of  weakness,  and  yet,  evi- 
dences of  good  results.  We  are  not  disposed  to  make  such  a  display 
of  our  affairs  as  others  have  a  fashion  of  doing,  who,  out  of  three  or 
four  half  converted  people  (yet  God  knows  them)  will  create  an  aston- 
ishingly pious  congregation.  I  have  an  abhorrence  of  all  such  boast- 
ing, because  an  unsound  principle  lies  at  the  bottom  of  it."» 

He  has  sent  us  a  Report  of  the  labors  of  himself  and  of  his  colleague 
during  the  first  half  of  the  year  1745,  in  which  he  speaks  of  many  whom 
he  visited  at  their  own  homes,  or  who  had  themselves  visited  him ;  in 
whom  he  had  discovered  a  hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness; 
some  of  them  not  being  without  experience  in  the  Grace  of  God,  others 
having  a  good  foundation  laid ;  in  all  which  he  heartily  rejoiced. 


EVANGELICAL   CONGEEGATIONS   IN   AMERICA.  155 

9.  He  has  spoken  of  certain  cases  at  considerable  length ;  and  we  re- 
port them  here  in  his  own  words.  "On  Jan.  23d,  1745,  I  baptized,  iu 
the  church,  a  child  of  Reformed  parents  Avho  had  been  companions  of 
my  voyage  across  the  ocean.  There  were,  upon  the  ship,  several  Ger- 
man-Swiss families  also,  to  one  of  which  the  mother  belonged.  She 
herself  was  much  impressed  by  the  AVord,  as  presented  to  these  fami- 
lies, on  the  voyage,  and  has  made  a  good  beginning  in  the  Chris- 
(49)  tian  life.  Whilst  on  board  the  ship  I  had  a  prayer-meeting 
every  day  with  these  Swiss,  and  observed  in  several  of  them,  evi- 
dences of  the  power  of  Divine  Grace.  On  Jan.  30th,  in  company  with 
my  colleague,  I  visited  a  sick  woman  and  was  greatly  cheered  by  her 
meekness  and  her  love  for  the  Lord  Jesus.  It  is,  indeed,  a  great  com- 
fort to  me  to  meet  with  a  sincere  soul,  here  and  there.  On  Feb.  15th, 
I  visited  a  woman  of  the  Reformed  Church  who  seems  to  be  truly  peni- 
tent. A  negro  slave,  a  female,  came  in,  who  claimed  to  wish  for  a  cor- 
rect knowledge  of  religious  truth,  and  to  be  earnestly  desirous  of  be- 
coming a  Christian.  I  spoke  with  her  in  the  English  language,  and 
sought  to  encourage  her  in  her  inquiries.  On  Feb.  26th,  I  was  called 
upon  by  a  man  who  stated  that  he  had  often  been  deeply  impressed  by 
the  preaching  of  my  colleague ;  but  that  he  had  never  yet  begun  in  the 
right  way  to  become  a  Christian.  He  saw  clearly  the  absolute  neces- 
sity of  such  a  beginning,  and  he  had  now  made  up  his  mind  to  under- 
take it.  I  spoke  with  him  about  the  genuine  renewing  of  the  heart 
and  mind ;  and  endeavored  to  encourage  him  in  his  good  resolution. 

On  March  22d,  a  woman  of  the  congregation,  who  has  been  attend- 
ing the  night  school  in  which  I  teach  adults  reading  and  writing,  came 
to  me  privately,  and  told  me  of  her  trouble  and  distress  of  mind  on  ac- 
count of  certain  offences,  of  which  she  had  been  guilty  in  Germany. 
I  endeavored  to  lead  her  in  the  way  of  a  true  repentance  of  heart. 
She  told  me  that  she  would  be  perfectly  willing  that  I  should  spread 
her  case  before  the  whole  congregation,  if  she  could  thereby  be  relieved 
of  her  distress.  I  replied  that  this  was  not  necessary,  for  no  one  in  our 
congregation  knew  anything  at  all  about  these  matters;  that  it  was  not 
advisable,  in  this  way,  to  publish  her  offences  abroad ;  and  that  such  a 
course  would,  by  no  means,  quiet  her  troubled  conscience.  I  advised 
her  that,  most  of  all,  she  should  pray  earnestly  to  God,  that  in  the  light 
of  His  Word  He  would  show  her  the  evil  of  sin  and  the  wretched  con- 
dition of  the  unrenewed  heart ;  and  then  come  to  Him  as  a  weary, 
heavy-laden  sinner.  In  this  way  she  would  find  peace  for  her  soul. 
On  April  3d,  this  Avoman  came  again  and  I  was  glad  to  find  that, 
(50)  to  all  appearances,  the  Lord  has  been  leading  her  in  the  way  of 
true  repentance." 


156  SECOXD   CONTINUATION   OF    BRIEF    REPORT   OF    CERTAIN 

10.  Under  date  of  June  11th,  he  speaks  of  a  man  and  his  wife  who, 
although  they  had  been  baptized  in  their  childhood,  had  yet  never 
been  connected  with  auy  Church,  nor  received  any  instruction  in  the 
Christian  Keligion,  until  after  the  arrival  of  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  whose 
preaching  they  diligently  attended  and,  in  consequence,  were  awakened 
to  an  earnest  desire  for  their  salvation.  Pastor  Brunnholtz  paid  special 
attention  to  the  instruction  of  these  persons,  and  prepared  them  for  ad- 
mission to  the  Holy  Supper. 

Under  date  of  April  26th,  1746,  Brunnholtz  shows  the  good  effects  of 
theii'  pastoral  faithfulness  in  another  form,  as  follows :  "  The  churchly 
Lutherans  (as  the  surrounding  sects  are  wont  to  call  them)  are  now 
rising  into  high  consideration  among  those  parties  who  had  previously 
looked  upon  them  with  contempt,  in  consequence  of  the  scandals  occa- 
sioned by  base  characters  who,  without  a  regular  call,  had  obtruded 
themselves  into  the  pastoral  office.  O,  that  we  might  ourselves  shine 
as  lights,  illumining  the  darkness  of  our  people ;  then,  whilst  the  num- 
ber of  the  children  of  the  light  would  increase  amongst  them,  the  of- 
fences thrown  in  the  way  of  others  would  finally  disappear." 

11.  He  gives  us  also  several  cases  of  adult  persons  who,  having  never 
been  baptized,  maintained  a  kind  of  connection  with  some  sect  or  other, 
or  kept  aloof  from  all  forms  of  religious  fellowship.  Some  of  these, 
after  due  instruction,  as  well  as  their  children,  have  been  baptized; 
and  of  such  cases  he  gives,  in  the  letter  mentioned  above,  the  following 
example.  "On  Feb.  28th,  1745,  my  colleague  came  from  Providence 
to  see  me  in  Philadelphia.  He  stated  that  he  had  baptized  a  father 
and  his  four  children.  The  father  himself  had  long  been  convinced  of 
the  necessity  of  baptism ;  yet,  he  could  not  readily  make  up  his  mind 
to  submit  to  its  administration.  In  the  meantime,  however,  he  had 
faithfully  attended  the  preaching  of  the  Word,  and  the  Grace  of  God 

enabled  him  at  last  to  triumph  over  all  obstacles.  On  March 
(51)  24th  my  colleague  baptized  two  daughters  of  Mennonite  parents 

in  New  Hanover ;  and  it  is  expected  that,  in  a  short  time  they 
will  be  admitted  to  the  Holy  Supper.  On  March  31st  I  went  to  Ger- 
mantown,  preached  and  baptized  several  children.  After  the  service  a 
man  who  is  the  father  of  five  adult  children  not  yet  baptized,  called 
upon  me,  and  begged  me  to  give  them  the  needful  instruction  and  then 
to  baptize  them.  (To  this  case  we  have  already  made  a  slight  refer- 
ence in  our  first  continuation,  page  35).  I  accompanied  this  man  to 
his  farm,  some  five  miles  from  the  church,  conversed  with  his  children, 
and  made  arrangements  to  give  them  the  needful  preparatory  instruc- 
tion. This  man  has  been  17  years  in  this  country;  he  has  considerable 
knowledge  of  Christian  truth  and  has  some  very  good  books." 


EVANGELICAL   CONGREGATIONS   IN   AMERICA.  157 

"From  the  foregoing  facts  it  may  be  seen  into  what  a  ruinous  condi- 
tion these  congregations  would  have  fallen  in  the  course  of  time,  if  they 
had  not  been  supjjlied  with  regular  pastors.  Seeing  that  parents  even, 
who  had  themselves  been  instructed  in  Christian  doctrine,  allowed  their 
children  to  grow  up  without  baptism,  we  may  infer  that  much  greater 
neglect  must  have  marked  those  families  the  heads  of  which  were 
themselves  without  the  knowledge  of  the  Truth.  Wherefore  we  must 
the  more  heartily  thank  God,  that  He  has,  at  last,  in  good  time,  caused 
the  light  of  His  Word  to  shine  in  upon  the  gross  darkness.  Of  the  five 
adult  children  just  spoken  of,  the  three  oldest,  after  the  needful  pre- 
paratory instruction,  were  baptized  on  Trinity,  June  9th,  1745;  the 
other  two  were  baptized  some  weeks  later,  all  in  the  presence  of  the 
congregation.  On  June  16th,  in  Providence,  I  baptized  a  married 
woman  and  her  two  brothers,  having  previously  given  them  the  requi- 
site instruction.^^  The  occasion  seemed  to  produce  a  very  deep  im- 
pression, as  Avell  upon  the  whole  congregation  as  upon  these  persons 
themselves.  Their  residence  is  in  Matetscha,  four  miles  from  Provi- 
dence— to  which  congregation  they  belong." 

12.  As  this  Report  extends  only  to  the  end  of  June,  1745,  we  have 
no  specific  information  concerning  the  latter  half  of  the  year,  save 

what  may  be  gathered  from  certain  letters  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz, 
(52)  a  couple  of  extracts  from  which  may  be  acceptable.     To  a  good 

friend  in  Tonningen^^  he  writes,  among  other  things,  as  follows: 
"When  I  attend  a  funeral  I  always  preach  a  sermon ;  and  often  have, 
among  my  hearers,  representatives  of  all  existing  religions  and  sects ; 
for  it  is  the  custom  here,  to  invite  all  the  neighborhood  to  attend  the 
funeral.  So,  I  have  many  opportunities  to  speak  a  word  of  edification ; 
and  the  people  of  all  the  sects  can  hear  that  we  insist  upon  a  genuine 
Christian  experience  and  life,  the  contrary  of  which  they  prefer  to 
ascribe  to  us ;  for  they  fancy  and  say,  that  church-people,  as  they  call 
those  who  attend  churches,  build  their  hopes  of  salvation  only  upon 
their  church-going.  I  have  recently  attended  the  funerals  of  several 
children  in  Germantown.  The  exhortations  on  these  occasions  pro- 
duced such  a  good  impression  upon  a  certain  Separatist,  ^  ^  that  when 
one  of  his  own  children  died  he  begged  me  to  preach  a  sermon  at  its 
funeral  also.  Upon  arriving  at  the  house  I  learned  that  the  child  had 
never  been  baptized ;  for  which  reason  I  at  first  refused  to  proceed 
further ;  but  upon  ascertaining  the  views  and  feelings  of  the  father, 
I  buried  it,  and  afterwards  baptized  his  four  young  children  in  the 
presence  of  all  kinds  of  people,  whose  hearts  appeared  to  be  moved  as 
they  witnessed  how  the  children,  according  to  their  capacity,  answered 
my  few  questions  and  how  meekly  they  kneeled  down  to  be  baptized. 


158  SECOND   CONTINUATION   OF   BRIEF   REPORT   OF   CERTAIN 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  addressed  by  Pastor  Brimn- 
holtz  to  his  own  personal  relatives.  "  Since  my  arrival  in  this  country 
we  have  baptized  many  adults.  On  the  Sunday  after  St.  Michael's 
day  the  church  in  Providence  was  solemnly  consecrated.  Two  other 
Lutheran  pastors  besides  ourselves  were  present ;  and  the  j^eople  in 
attendance  amounted  to  many  hundreds.  On  the  same  day  we  bap- 
tized three  colored  people,  who  had  also  been  examined  in  the  presence 
of  the  congregation."  ^3 

In  regard  to  these  colored  people,  w^e  must  say,  that  it  is  much  to  be 
regetted  that  a  more  circumstantial  account  could  not  have  been  sent 
to  us ;  for  the  fact  is,  in  itself,  most  wonderful  that  the  Lord,  in  His 
mercy,  has  caused  the  light  of  His  salvation  to  shine  upon  these  persons 
born  and  reared  in  heathenism,  and  granted  to  them  repentance  unto 

life.i* 
(53)  13.  We  proceed  now  to  give  some  short  account  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  churches.  The  consecration  of  the  church  in  Provi- 
dence is  briefly  reported  in  the  extract,  just  now  given  ;  and  in  another 
letter  Pastor  Brunnholtz  gives  the  following  particulars:  "The.  new 
church  at  Providence  is  a  remarkably  fine  building.  It  is  entirely 
finished,  except  that  some  little  work  has  yet  to  be  done  on  the  gal- 
leries. It  is  built  of  stone,  and  therefore  is  not,  by  any  means,  as 
costly,  in  proportion,  as  the  church  in  Philadelphia,  where  bricks  alone 
are  used  as  the  building  material,  which  are  very  high  in  price,  because 
several  hundred  houses  are  built  in  that  city  every  year."^  ^  As  it  had 
previously  been  announced  that  the  church  would  not  be  consecrated 
before  it  was  finished  in  all  its  parts,  w^e  are  of  opinion,  that  the  work 
on  the  galleries  was  likewise  completed  before  the  consecration,  al- 
though we  have  not  been  positively  informed  to  that  eflfect.  In  the 
church  in  Philadelphia  the  windows  have  yet  to  be  glazed  and  quite  a 
variety  of  other  matters  have  to  be  finished  up.  The  sharp  draughts 
of  air  that  pass  through  the  window  openings  in  cold  weather  are  often 
a  very  serious  inconvenience  at  the  time  of  public  worship.  The 
weight  of  the  debt  incurred  presses  heavily  upon  the  congregation ; 
and  they  have  not,  as  yet,  felt  themselves  able  vigorously  to  push  for- 
ward the  building  to  its  completion. 

Under  date  of  April  22d,  1746,  in  the  last  letters  received  from  him, 
Pastor  Brunnholtz  refers  to  the  expenses  that  are  yet  to  be  provided 
for,  and  gives  the  following  particulars:  "On  March  14th,  the  vestry 
of  the  church  in  Philadelphia  presented  to  my  colleague  and  myself  a 
statement  of  the  pecuniary  affairs  of  the  congregation.  It  appears, 
that  after  the  congregation  had  received,  from  the  late  collections,  150 


EVANGELICAL    CONGREGATIONS    IN    AMERICA.  159 

pounds  currency,  they  yet  have  a  debt  of  (394  pounds  currency,  or  2540 
Eix  dollars ;  and  upon  this  they  have  to  pay,  annually,  42  pounds  or 
154  Rix  dollars  as  interest.  As  the  church  stands  at  the  present  time, 
the  windows  unglazed,  having  no  pews,  no  floor,  no  pulpit,  and  equally 
defective  in  other  respects,  for  all  of  which  provision  has  yet  to  be  made ; 
the  expense  already  amounts  to  1310  pounds,  17  shillings,  9t  pence,  cur- 
rency, or  about  4800  Rix  dollars.  Of  this  amount  616  pounds,  4  shill- 
ings, 9  pence,  have  been  paid,  and  the  debt  mentioned  above  remains. 
Our  trust  is  in  God,  that  He  Avill  enable  us  to  reduce  the  debt  to  about 
400  pounds.  This  would  require  24  pounds  yearly  interest,  which 
(54)  the  congregation  would  have  to  pay  until  the  whole  debt  shall  be 
extinguished." 

"  We  need  also  a  church-bell  of  good  tone ;  but  in  regard  to  this  we 
must  have  patience  until  Providence  may  furnish  us  with  the  means  to 
pay  for  it,  because  we  do  not  wish  to  become  so  deeply  involved  that 
we  cannot  extricate  ourselves  again." 

"  The  congregation  in  Philadelphia  is  one  of  the  largest,  but  also  one 
of  the  poorest,  and  is  subject  to  many  changes  in  its  membership ;  for 
very  few  of  its  members  are  settled  as  permanent  residents  in  the  city. 
Those  of  the  Germans  arriving  here  by  ship,  who  have  not  been  able 
to  pay  their  passage,  from  their  own  means,  have  to  sell  themselves,  so 
to  speak,  and  their  families ;  and,  accordingly,  have  to  render  service 
to  their  purchasers,  until  they  shall  have  worked  out  the  expense  of 
their  passage.  Such  persons  are  called  '  servants.' ^^  When  they  have 
thus  paid  for  their  passage  by  their  labor,  and  earned  something  in  ad- 
dition, they  usually  remove  further  inland  and  seek  to  secure  some 
property  for  themselves.  Nevertheless,  may  the  Lord,  who  is  so  rich 
in  mercy,  not  forsake  us  but  abundantly  help  us  in  the  building  of  our 
Church.  May  He  grant  that  Zion  shall  be  built  up  in  spirit,  may  He 
arise  and  have  mercy  upon  her ! " 

"  I  cannot  exactly  state  what  was  the  cost  of  the  church  in  Provi- 
dence, nor  what  is  the  amount  of  the  debt  yet  due.  That  congregation 
is  under  the  immediate  charge  of  my  colleague,  who  will  himself  for- 
ward a  Report  in  a  short  time.  He  does  not  write  at  present  because, 
as  he  lives  in  the  country,  he  had  no  information  of  the  sailing  of  the 
ship  by  which  this  communication  is  sent.  I  know  this,  however,  that 
the  congregation  in  Providence  has  received  its  appropriate  share  of 
the  moneys  collected  and  forwarded  for  the  building  of  the  several 
churches." 

It  became  absolutely  necessary  also  to  enlarge  the  church  in  Ger- 
mantown.     Pastor  Brunnholtz  had  not  only  referred  to  this  previously 


160  SECOND    CONTINUATION    OF    BRIEF    REPORT    OF    CERTAIN 

on  different  occasions,  but  in  his  last  letter  to  us  he  informs  us  of  the 
actual  commencement  of  the  work,  as  follows:  "On  April  15th,  of  the 
present  year,  we  laid,  in  the  Name  of  God,  the  corner  stone  of  the  new 
building  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Germantown.  The  church  will  be 
30  feet  longer  and  six  feet  broader  than  it  was.  The  expense  is  esti- 
mated at  about  160  pounds  currency  or  568  Rix  dollars.  Mem- 
(do)  bers  and  friends  of  the  congregation  have  subscribed  and  prom- 
ised 60  pounds,  and  the  balance  will  have  to  be  taken  on  interest. 
The  work  is  now  vigorously  pushed  forward.  Six  years  ago  we  could 
hardly  count  six  members  here ;  then  the  church  was  too  large ;  but  at 
the  present  time  we  have  about  seventy  very  worthy  families." 

14.  The  building  of  these  churches  being,  in  the  highest  degree,  ne- 
cessary, the  pastors  and  officers  of  the  several  congregations  undertook 
the  work ;  believing  that  God  in  His  mercy,  would  supply  the  means 
which  they  had  not,  as  yet,  in  their  hands.  They  now  express  their 
gratitude  for  the  reason  that  the  Lord  has  prospered  the  work  so  much 
that  nearly  one-half  of  the  expense  of  building  the  church  in  Philadel- 
phia has  been  paid ;  the  larger  part  of  the  collections  gathered  from 
the  churches  in  Germany  having  been  allotted  to  the  church  in  Phila- 
delphia, as  it  was  a  more  expensive  building.  They  inform  us,  at  the 
same  time,  that  the  debts  yet  remaining  are  too  heavy  for  them  to  bear ; 
and,  if  they  do  not  obtain  some  good  measure  of  help  yet,  they  will  not 
themselves  be  able  to  liquidate  them.  In  a  letter  dated  Nov.  1st,  1745, 
Pastor  Muhlenberg  writes :  "  I  have  asked  of  the  Lord  what,  to  human 
sight,  might  have  seemed  impossible,  that  is,  to  send  me  some  good 
men  as  helpers  in  the  pastoral  office,  and  He  has  granted  it.  The  load 
that  yet  oppresses  us  is  the  debt  incurred  by  the  building  of  churches, 
which  we  are  not  in  a  condition  to  pay.  In  such  matter,  however,  our 
friends  in  Europe  have  helped  us  much ;  and  still  continue  to  do  so." 
We  omit  further  extracts  of  like  import ;  and  simply  add,  that  their 
trust  is  in  God,  that  He  will  continue  His  favor ;  and  not  permit  them 
to  be  brought  to  shame,  so  that  the  glory  of  His  Name  and  the  good 
work  which  He  has  begun  may  still  continue  to  advance. 

15.  We  have  great  reason  to  thank  God  that  He  has  had  mercy 
upon  the  scattered  flock  of  these  four  associated  congregations,  and 

provided  them  with  shepherds  to  seek  the  lost  sheep,  to  heal  the 
(56)  sick,  to  bind  up  the  broken,  to  bring  back  those  that  were  driven 

away  and  to  lead  them  to  the  green  pastures  of  the  Word.  All 
this  they  have  faithfully  endeavored  to  do,  according  to  the  ability 
that  God  has  given  them ;  and  they  have  richly  enjoyed  the  blessing 
of  God  in  their  work.     Besides,  it  will  surely  be  gratifying  to  the 


EVANGELICAL    CONGREGATIONS    IN   AMERICA.  161 

whole  Evangelical  Churcli  to  observe  that  by  these  means  the  pure 
doctrine  of  the  Divine  Word  is  maintained  in  these  congregations. 
Otherwise,  tjiere  had  been  great  reason  to  fear,  that  as  time  went  on, 
there  would  be  more  and  more  of  the  members  of  the  Church  who 
would  have  entirely  forsaken  the  fellowship  of  the  Church,  rather  than 
recognize  the  ministry  of  men  who  had  boldly  pushed  themselves  into 
the  pastoral  office,  occasioned  great  scandal  by  their  misconduct  and 
brought  great  reproach  upon  the  Christian  name.  Besides,  as  the 
youth  were  growing  up  in  utter  ignorance,  j^erhaps  even  without  bap- 
tism, the  necessary  result  of  all  must  have  been,  that  the  light  of  Di- 
vine truth  would,  at  last,  have  gone  out  in  total  darkness.  The  good 
fruits  of  what  has  been  done  for  these  four  congregations  are  not  con- 
fined to  them  alone.  It  appears  to  be  the  will  of  God  to  extend  the 
good  work  all  around,  and  to  drive  back  the  ruinous  darkness,  by 
causing  the  light  of  His  Word  to  arise  and  shine  upon  other  congrega- 
tions and  in  other  neighborhoods.  Of  this,  we  now  proceed  to  give  an 
account. 

16.  It  remains  for  us,  then,  to  state  what  desires  have  been  expressed 
by  other  congregations  in  Pennsylvania  and  adjacent  parts,  to  secure 
the  services  of  faithful  pastors.  As  the  faithfulness  of  the  two  pastors, 
Muhlenberg  and  Brunnholtz,  in  ministering  to  their  several  congrega- 
tions came  to  be  more  generally  known,  it  awakened  among  the  people 
of  many  other  places  an  ardent  desire  that  they,  too,  might  be  favored 
with  similar  privileges  in  the  preaching  of  the  Word.  Certain  neigh- 
borhoods which,  chiefly  on  account  of  their  poverty,  are  unable  to  sup- 
port a  settled  pastor,  have  often  solicited  them  with  much  entreaty  to 
favor  them,  at  least,  with  an  occasional  sermon ;  and,  although 
(57)  they  have  been  over-burdened  by  work  in  their  own  congrega- 
tions, nevertheless,  they  have  yielded  to  these  requests  w^henever 
they  could  do  so  without  neglecting  their  duty  to  their  own  churches. 
Such  congregations  are  found  at  Ohley,^^  Cohanzi,  Chester  and 
Schwartzwald.  At  Ohley,  before  the  arrival  of  Brunnholtz,  Muhlen- 
berg, at  the  request  of  a  mother  whose  heart  seemed  to  be  hungering 
after  righteousness,  baptized  her  four  children,  already  well  grown. 
True,  this,  at  first,  excited  the  displeasure  of  the  father ;  afterwards, 
however,  he  approved  of  it,  allowed  his  children  to  go  to  church  and 
to  school,  and  visited  the  pastors  himself,  showing  a  very  friendly  dis- 
position. They  have  preached  several  times  at  this  place  and  at  Co- 
hanzi also,  and  noticed  that  the  impression  produced  was  quite  favora- 
ble. Cohanzi  is  about  36  miles  from  Philadelphia.  The  young  man 
of  whom  we  have  already  spoken  (p.  45)  as  having  taught  a  school  in 
11 


162  SECOND   CONTINUATION   OF    BRIEF    REPORT   OF    CERTAIN 

Phildelphia,  and  to  whose  further  preparation  for  his  work  Pastor 
Brunnholtz  had  devoted  considerable  attention,  was  sent  to  teach  the 
school  in  this  congregation,  and  also  furnished  with  an  approved  Postil, 
with  instructions  to  read  a  sermon  to  the  congregation  every  Sunday. 

Referring  to  a  sermon  that  he  had  preached  in  Chester,  Pastor 
Brunnholtz  gives  us  the  following  extract  from  his  diary :  "  On  March 
25th,  1745,  a  man  called  upon  me  and  requested  me  to  go  to  Chester 
and  preach  to  the  Germans  there.  He  said  also,  that  the  English 
preacher  there  had  promised  to  allow  the  Germans  the  use  of  his 
church,  if  they  could  get  a  regular  pastor  to  preach  a  sermon.  Ac- 
cordingly, after  service  on  the  morning  of  June  30th,  I  went  to  Ches- 
ter, which  is  about  16  miles  from  Philadelphia,  arriving  there  at  two 
o'clock,  P.M.  A  good  friend  of  mine  and  several  officers  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia  went  along  with  me.  The  Germans  here  who,  for  the 
most  part,  are  '  servants,'  as  they  are  called,  employed  by  English  peo- 
ple and  so  speaking  a  mixture  of  German  and  English,  had  gathered 
together  and  the  English  preacher  had  kindly  alloAved  them  to  occupy 
the  English  church  for  their  service.  There  were  also  many  English 
people  in  attendance  at  the  same  time.  After  the  sermon  I  had 
(58)  a  meeting  of  all  the  Germans  in  the  private  residence  of  one  of 
them,  and  exhorted  them  to  come  together  every  Sunday,  and 
have  some  one  who  could  do  it  well  to  read  a  sermon  to  them,  for 
which  purpose  I  promised  to  send  them  a  Postil.  They  stood  around 
me  like  children,  or  like  famishing  sheep  without  a  shepherd,  and  be- 
gan to  cry.  This  melted  the  hearts  of  the  men  who  were  in  company 
with  me;  and  they  thought  of  the  blessings  bestowed  upon  themselves, 
now  no  longer  famishing,  as  they  once  did,  for  the  Word  of  the  Lord. 
In  Germany  there  are  very  few  who  appreciate  the  privilege  of  being 
permitted  to  hear  one,  two  or  even  three  sermons  every  Sunday ;  but 
here  there  are  many  who  are  very  glad  if  they  can  have  but  one  ser- 
mon in  a  year.  It  is  six  years  since  these  people  in  Chester  heard  the 
Gospel  preached  in  German,  the  last  time." 

Schwartzwald  is  a  place  lying  between  Tulpehocken  and  New  Han- 
over. Here  the  Lutherans,  in  union  with  the  Reformed,  ^^  have  built 
a  new  church,  and  taken  a  certain  person,  who  had  been  a  schoolmas- 
ter in  Germany,  as  their  pastor.  Muhlenberg  and  Brunnholtz  upon 
returning  from  a  visit  to  Tulpehocken  passed  through  this  neighbor- 
hood, and  the  former,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  people  preached  in 
their  church ;  the  people  heartily  enjoying  the  service.  These  state- 
ments may  serve  to  show  how  those  congregations  that  have  no  pastors 
of  their  own,  do  now  and  then  enjoy  some  of  the  privileges  that  are 
more  regularly  and  abundantly  granted  to  others.  ^ 


EVANGELICAL   CONGREGATIONS   IN   AMERICA.  163 

17.  Besides  the  foregoing  there  are  other  congregations,  some  of  them 
having  never  had  a  pastor,  others  having  been  left  by  the  late  pastor, 
which  have  addressed  to  us,  through  Muhlenberg  and  Brunnholtz, 
most  earnest  appeals  for  faithful  teachers  of  the  Word,  pledging  a 
salary  adequate  to  their  support.  In  a  certain  town  located  somewhat 
more  than  a  day's  journey  from  New  Hanover,^^  there  is  a  Lutheran 
congregation  which  Pastor  Muhlenberg  has  visited  several  times,  in 
accordance  with  the  urgent  invitations  of  the  people,  and  in  which  he 
has  prepared  a  number  of  young  people  for  the  Lord's  Supper.  This 
congregation  has  placed  in  Muhlenberg's  hands  a  regular  call  for  a 
new  pastor,  entreating  him  to  do  the  best  he  could  for  them  himself 
until  the  new  pastor  may  arrive;  and  Muhlenberg  says  that  a 
(59)  faithful  servant  of  Christ  will  be  sure  to  find  a  great  field  opened 
before  him  here,  for  there  are  many  Germans  living  far  and  wide 
around.  Another  congregation  in  New  Jersey  ^o  has  earnestly  begged 
that  Mr.  Kurtz,  the  teacher,  might  be  permitted  to  serve  them  for  a 
season ;  and  that,  meanwhile,  letters  should  be  written  on  their  behalf, 
with  the  view  of  securing  a  regular  pastor.  In  accordance  with  this, 
Mr.  Kurtz  went  to  this  congregation,  as  a  temporary  supply,  on  JMarch 
18th,  1746;  the  young  man  whom  Muhlenberg  had  employed  as  school- 
master in  Providence  (p.  46)  supplying  Mr.  Kurtz's  place  in  the  school 
at  New  Hanover,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Vigera. 

Upon  the  invitation  of  the  people,  Muhlenberg  visited  this  same  con- 
gregation several  times  during  the  last  year  and  instructed  a  class  of 
24  catechumens,  preparing  them  for  the  Lord's  Supper.  He  has  visited 
them  twice  this  year;  and,  as  we  learn  from  his  last  letters,  Pastor 
Brunnholtz  also  proposes  to  visit  them  during  the  summer.  The  Ger- 
man Lutherans  in  the  Maquaischen  District,  ^i  New  York,  have  like- 
wise importuned  them  for  pastoral  service,  with  whom  how^ever  they  have, 
as  yet,  not  made  any  positive  engagement.  Meanwhile,  the  pastors 
both,  in  all  their  letters  beg  us,  in  the  strongest  terms  and  as  a  most 
useful  service,  to  seek  out  two  good  and  competent  men,  to  place  a 
regular  pastoral  call  from  these  congregations  in  their  hands  and  to 
send  them  to  America  that  they  may  minister  in  the  Word.  This  de- 
pends chiefly,  however,  upon  the  good  will  of  God,  that  He  may  point 
out  the  persons  who  may  be  fit  for  the  work,  and  remove  the  hindrances 
that  obstruct  the  way,  of  which  one  of  the  greatest  is  the  circumstance, 
that  the  congregations  themselves  are  not  able  to  bear  the  expenses  of 
the  journey.  They  ask,  ithat  these  expenses  may  be  defrayed  out  of 
the  moneys  collected  for  the  churches  in  Philadelphia,  Providence, 
etc.,  and  propose  to  re-imburse  these  congregations  by  contributing  an 


164  SECOND    CONTINUATION    OF    BRIEF    REPORT,    ETC. 

equal  amount  to  the  building  of  their  churches.  But  since  the  last 
collections  have  been  transmitted,  very  little  has  been  placed  in  our 
hands ;  and  we  are  not  able  to  make  any  advance  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  voyage. 

18.  We  are  persuaded,  however,  that  God,  who  is  able  to  do  exceed- 
ing abundantly  above  all  that  we  can  ask  or  think,  is  able  to  remove 
all  these  hindrances,  that  He  will  do  it  w^hen  the  proper  time 
(60)  comes,  and  that  He  will  make  it  manifest  by  overruling  all  cir- 
cumstances and  employing  all  needful  means  for  the  advance- 
ment of  His  own  work.  Meanwhile,  it  is  our  duty  to  magnify  His 
Name  for  what  He  has  already  done ;  to  plead  With  Him  in  earnest 
and  believing  prayer,  on  behalf  of  these  desolate  congregations ;  and  to 
entreat  Him  to  cause  His  kingdom  to  come  to  them,  so  that  they  may 
be  led,,  by  the  light  of  His  Word,  in  the  way  of  salvation  through 
Jesus  Christ.  He  has  no  delight  in  the  death  of  a  sinner,  much  rather 
is  it  His  will  that  the  sinner  should  repent  and  live ;  and  therefore  He 
will  graciously  hear  and  answer  these,  our  prayers,  for  His  mercy's 
sake. 

In  conclusion,  we  pray  that  those  congregations  that  are  already 
favored  with  the  privileges  of  the  Gospel  may  receive  the  Word  into 
honest  and  good  hearts ;  and  that  their  pastors  and  teachers  may  ob- 
tain ever  new  supplies  of  grace  and  power  from  on  high,  patiently  and 
successfully  to  teach  their  people  the  whole  counsel  of  God,  for  their 
salvation.  Further,  for  their  work  of  faith  and  labor  of  love,  in  which 
all  the  friends  and  benefactors  of  these  congregations  have  come  to 
their  help,  the  Lord  reward  them  according  to  the  fullness  of  His 
Grace,  accept  their  offerings  as  a  sweet  smelling  savor  and  ever  supply 
all  their  need  according  to  the  riches  of  His  Glory  in  Christ  Jesus,  to 
whom  be  praise  forever.     Amen. 


NOTES   TO   THE   SECOND   CONTINUATION.  165 


NOTES  TO  THE   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 


^  Germantown  is  now  a  part  of  the  consolidated  city  of  Philadelphia,  although 
it  is  several  miles  distant  from  the  centre  of  business.  See  Note  29th,  Brief  Re- 
port, page  60. 

2  The  time  had  not  yet  arrived  for  a  regular,  synodical  organization.  But  out 
of  these  pastoral  conferences,  of  which  we  now  hear,  and  by  the  force  of  circum- 
stances, there  grew  up  what  is  properly  called  a  Synod  ;  a  name,  however,  Avhich 
was  not  exclusively  employed  until  after  some  years  had  passed.  It  will  be  no- 
ticed in  the  3d  Continuation,  I.  Sect.,  19. 

^  Does  this  mean  Saccum  or  Saitcon,  on  a  stream  of  the  same  name,  north  east 
of  New  Hanover?  The  Saucon  empties  into  the  river  Lehigh,  at  Freemansburg, 
three  miles  below  Bethlehem. 

^  We  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  anything  about  the  origin  or  the  youth  of 
this  man  whose  memory  is  held  in  such  honor,  by  the  Sal zburger  Reports  of  Ebene- 
zer,  Effingham  Co.,  Georgia,  as  well  as  by  the  Halle  Reports  of  Pennsylvania.  Never- 
theless, from  the  long  introduction,  towards  its  end,  of  the  7tli  Continuation  of  the 
Salzburger  Reports,  we  learn,  that  he  was  born  in  Strassburg,  was  a  "protestant 
merchant,"  and  unmarried.  We  know  also,  that  in  the  fall  of  1741,  he  conducted  61 
Salzburg  emigrants,  the  fourth  transport,  from  London  to  Ebenezer.  The  diary 
of  this  voyage  is  given  in  the  9th  Continuation  of  the  Salzburger  Reports,  No. 
III.  There  also  may  be  seen  a  letter  of  his,  to  a  prominent  banker  in  Germany, 
dated  May  18th,  1742.  He  owned  a  small  piece  of  ground  at  Ebenezer,  where 
he,  at  first,  undertook  to  raise  silk-worms ;  but  in  July  1742  he  lay  sick  of  a  fever, 
at  the  house  of  Pastor  Bolzius,  by  which  time,  however,  he  had  already  under- 
taken the  superintendency  of  the  Orphanhouse  at  Ebenezer.  He  had  also  been 
much  occupied  in  preparing  to  build  a  house  for  himself;  but  his  health  having 
failed,  he  set  out  upon  a  journey  to  Pennsylvania,  Aug.  8th,  1743 ;  Pastor  Bolzius 
bearing  him  company  as  far  as  Savannah.  Beyond  what  we  read  about  him  in 
this  2d  Continuation,  to  wit,  that  he  taught  school  in  New  Hanover,  and  would, 
now  and  then,  read  a  sermon,  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor;  and,  in  the  occasional 
absence  of  the  catechist  John  N.  Kurtz,  would  superintend  his  school  also  (see 
pp.  59,  180),  we  learn  that  in  1746  he  lived  in  the  house  of  Muhlenberg  in  Provi- 
dence, and  taught  school  there.  Muhlenberg  calls  him  "our  dear  friend"  (p.  178). 
About  the  end  of  April  and  the  beginning  of  May,  1748,  he  accompanied  the  pas- 
tors Muhlenberg  and  Handschuh  to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  when  the  latter  went  a 
second  time,  to  take  charge  of  the  congregation  at  Lancaster,  on  May  23d  of  the 
same  year,  he  accompanied  him  also,  "zu  dessen  Erleichterung  im  Aeussern"  (see 
p.  102-104).  He  went  with  Handschuli  and  the  catechist  Schaum,  on  a  visit  to 
York,  Pa.,  and  the  borders  of  Maryland  (pp.  105,  etc.).  When  the  school  at  Lan- 
caster was  divided  he  took  one  of  the  sections  under  his  care.  Julv  3d,  1748 
(p.  110). 

In  the  Record  of  Marriages  in  the  congregation  at  Philadelphia,  we  read  the 
following,  in  the  handwriting  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz:  "April  19th,  1749,  at  the 


166  NOTES    TO    THE   SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

residence  of  Muhlenberg,  in  Providence,  John  Frederick  Vigera  with  Ais'XA 
Stephans."  Muhlenberg  himself  gives  us  an  interesting  account  of  this  in  the 
Halle  Reports  (p.  825).  From  this  time  Mr.  Vigera  is  employed  as  schoolteacher 
in  Philadelphia,  where,  in  the  absence  of  Pastor  Brunnholtz,  he  reads  a  sermon 
in  the  church  (p.  124),  and  has  his  home  in  the  house  of  Brunnholtz  for  a 
time  (p.  316).  In  1752  he  applied  to  the  congregation  to  pay  him  what  was 
due ;  and  on  Feb.  20th,  1752,  the  church  council  resolved,  that  if  he  should 
cease  to  teach  school  at  Easter,  a  new  arrangement  would  liave  to  be  made;  he 
should  be  paid  one  pound  and  ten  shillings  as  reader  in  the  church ;  that  the  ad- 
ditional lifty  pounds  due  to  him  should  be  paid,  as  soon  as  possible;  and  that  they 
would  otherwise  hold  him  high  in  their  esteem.  (See  Minute  Book  of  Church 
Council  at  Philadelphia.) 

In  1750  Brunnholtz  bears  witness  that  "  he  had  a  flourishing  school  this  winter 
and  so  instructed  the  children  as  to  give  great  satisfaction  to  the  parents.  God 
has  so  ordered  it,  at  last,  that  he  will  hereafter  remain  with  us  and  continue  in 
charge  of  the  school"  (p.  375).  On  page  387,  8,  there  is  a  reference  to  his  read- 
ing of  sermons  to  the  congregations  in  Philadelphia  and  Germantown.  He  joins 
Brunnholtz  in  furnishing  Ludolf  Schrenk  with  a  letter  of  recommendation  to 
Muhlenberg  (p.  390),  and  in  1751  introduces  the  newly  arrived  Pastor  Ileinzel- 
mann  to  Muhlenberg  (p.  547).  In  April,  1752,  he  retired  from  the  school  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  then  it  was  taught  by  Heinzelmann  and  the  organist  of  the  congre- 
gation (p.  559). 

At  this  point  he  disappears  from  the  Halle  Rej^orts  and  from  the  Minutes  of 
the  congregation  at  Philadelphia.  From  letters  of  him,  in  the  Schaum  corre- 
spondence, in  the  possession  of  the  Muhlenberg  family,  it  appears  that  whilst  re- 
siding in  Philadelphia  he  attended  to  a  great  variety  of  commissions  laid  upon 
him  by  the  pastors  in  the  country,  such  as  ordering,  and  forwarding  books,  etc., 
etc.  A  certain  vein  of  humor  also  pervaded  his  style  of  writing.  He  would  en- 
title the  pastors  Schaum  and  Kurtz  his  fratres;  and,  in  his  letters,  send  the  com- 
pliments of  his  costa  (rib),  etc.,  etc. 

^  "Heifer":  In  Wiirttemberg  and  in  other  districts  of  Germany  those  persons 
who  were  officially  associated  with  the  first  clergyman  of  the  place,  and  who,  in 
rank,  were  second'  pastors,  were  called  "  Heifer."  There  are  also  Oberhelfer,  Arch- 
deacons. The  position  held  by  the  two  ''Gehiilfen"  Schaum  and  Kurtz  may  re- 
mind us  of  the  office  of  vicar  that  was  common  in  Wiirttemberg.  Young  theolo- 
gians who  had  passed  their  examination  in  the  University  were  associated  with 
older  pastors,  or  with  those  whose  congregations  were  too  large  for  their  own 
strength,  as  assistants.  They  made  their  home  with  these  pastors,  were  trained 
by  them  in  the  practical  duties  of  the  pastoral  office,  and  were  subject  to  their 
control.     The  whole  responsibility  rested  upon  the  senior  pastor. 

^  This,  no  doubt,  refers  to  Jacob  Loeser,  who  afterwards  taught  school  in  New 
Hanover,  and  after  that,  also,  in  Lancaster.  (See  "Gemeinschaftliches  Schreiben" 
of  the  three  Senior  Pastors,  8th  Continuation,  Art.  IX.) 

7  See  Note  27  to  First  Brief  Report. 

8  See  more  about  this  in  *' Gemeinschaftliches  Schreiben"  of  the  three  Senior 
Pastors,  of  the  year  1754.     8th  Continuation,  Art.  IX,  p.  682. 

9  This  probably  refers  to  the  reports  of  divers  kinds  that  proceeded  from  the 
Moravians,  and  from  the  extravagant  importance  that  was  ascribed  to  the  arous- 


NOTES   TO    THE   SECOND    CONTINUATION.  167 

ing  of  pious  emotions,  a  thing  so  highly  extolled  by  Whitefield,  at  that  time,  and 
often  so  loudly  gloried  in  by  bragging  sects.  Muhlenberg  saw  through  the  whole 
business.  His  cool  judgment  detected  the  animal  elements  that  marked  it,  its 
weakness  and  hollowness ;  and  he  never  allowed  himself  to  be  deceived  by  it. 
The  same  is  true  of  his  colleague,  Brunnholtz.     See  Note  19. 

^°  The  following  is  taken  from  the  Church  Records:  ''June  16th,  1st  Sunday 
after  Trinity,  were  baptized,  in  the  church:  1,  Maria,  aged  18  years,  wife  of  Feld 
Scherer,  of  Matetscha;  2.  Andrew  Juengling,  aged  22  years,  of  Matetscha;  3. 
His  brother.  Christian  Juengling,  aged  20  years.  Witnesses,  Maria  Gertrude  and 
Feld  Scherer." 

^  ^  This  is  probably  the  town  of  Toenning,  on  the  river  Eider,  in  Schleswig-Hol- 
stein.  It  had  once  been  a  fortress.  Brunnholtz  was  a  native  of  this  province.  It 
is  likely  that  the  "good  friend"  is  the  person  spoken  of  in  Section  12  of  this  Con- 
tinuation, viz.,  Pastor  Ulitsch,  of  Toenningen. 

^  2  These  are  people  who  separate  themselves  from  the  regular  communion  of 
the  Church,  because  the  preaching  or  the  practice  of  the  Church,  or,  it  may  be, 
both  are  not  good  enough  for  them.  Such  characters  often  suffer  under  the  lack 
of  better  knowledge,  and  from  spiritual  pride ;  and  both  congregations  and  pastors 
should  be  careful  not  to  give  them  any  footing  or  any  encouragement.  Whoever 
is  smitten  with  separatistic  notions  should  not  forget,  that  he  himself  is  as  far 
fi'om  perfection  as  is  the  regular  congregation,  that  a  Divine  blessing  is  promised 
to  the  communion  of  the  Church,  and  that  each  individual  member  is  bound  to 
render  it  his  support.  Separation  can  be  right  only  then  when  the  congregation 
rejects  the  Word  of  God  and  the  Confession  of  the  Church,  when,  after  due  admo- 
nition, it  persists  in  this  rejection,  admits  those  who  are  openly  ungodly  to  the 
Holy  Supper,  and,  in  short,  refuses  to  maintain  church  discipline. 

^  ^  The  following  is  taken  from  the  Church  Records :  "  At  the  time  of  the  conse- 
cration of  the  church,  Oct.  6th,  Mr.  Pauling's  three  negroes  were  baptized,  and 
named,  John,  Jacob  and  Thomas.  Pastor  Brunnholtz,  Wagner  and  Newberg  were 
the  witnesses."     (This  Record  is  in  Muhlenberg's  hand.) 

1*  At  that  time  the  slave  trade  was  in  full  bloom  in  this  country,  and  negroes 
were  imported  direct  from  Africa.  On  March  1st,  1780,  the  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania  enacted  a  law  (34  ayes,  21  noes)  providing  for  the  gradual  aboli- 
tion of  slavery  and  the  slave  trade  throughout  the  state.  See  Dr.  Egle's  Hist,  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pa.,  p.  193.  However,  we  should  not  forget  that  it  was  a 
very  rare  thing  for  a  German  in  Pennsylvania  to  be  a  slaveholder ;  and  that  the 
first  protest  against  slavery  in  general  proceeded  from  the  meeting  of  German 
Quakers,  in  Germantown  (Philad'a),  April  18th,  1688.  The  English  Quakers,  at 
their  quarterly  and  yearly  meetings,  laid  this  protest  upon  the  table,  regarding  it 
as  of  too  explosive  a  character.  The  original  German  protest  is  yet  in  existence. 
On  this  subject,  see  Article  by  Prof.  Dr.  O.  Seidensticker,  in  the  "  Deutscher  Pio- 
nier,"  Cincinnati,  1870,  '71. 

1 5  At  that  time,  large  quantities  of  bricks,  for  building,  were  imported  from 
England.  In  the  Historical  Soc.  of  Pa.  at  Philadelphia  there  are  to  be  seen  writ- 
ten contracts  with  brickmakers  drawn  up  as  far  back  a^  1710-1715. 

1 «  Upon  this  subject  see  what  Muhlenberg  says,  at  length,  in  his  observations  on 
Example  6th,  in  the  11th  Continuation;  also  the  extract  from  Gottlieb  Mittelber- 
ger's  Journey,  etc.,  1754,  and  whatever  refers  to  it  in  Prof.  Dr.  O.  Seidensticker's 
"Geschichte  der  Deutschen  Gesellschaft  von  Pa."  1876,  p.  21,  sqq. 


168  KOTES   TO   THE   SECOND   CONTINUATIOX. 

^  ^  Upon  this  and  other  localities  consult  the  List  at  the  end  of  this  work.  Ches- 
ter, formerly  called  Upland,  on  the  Delaware,  16  miles  south  of  Philadelphia, 
was  a  station  of  Swedish  pastors.  It  was  here  that  William  Penn  first  trod  the 
new  world ;  and  here  also  the  first  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  met, 
under  William  Penn,  Dec.  4th,  1682.  An  Episcopal  church  was  built  there  as 
early  as  1702,  upon  ground  that  originally  belonged  to  the  Swedes.  See  Papers, 
relating  to  the  Hist,  of  the  Church  in  Pa.,  1871,  p.  78,  sqq.  There  was  no  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  church  there.  In  recent  times  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  has 
endeavored  to  organize  a  congregation  in  this  place. 

^  ^  It  was  owing  to  the  necessities  of  the  times  that  such  so-called  Union  churches 
were  erected.  In  the  course  of  time  much  ecclesiastical  confusion  resulted  from 
this ;  and  the  fewer  we  have  of  such  churches  the  better. 

.  1  ^  This  refers  to  Easton,  Pa.  True,  Easton  can  hardly  be  spoken  of  as  a  town 
in  1745.  At  that  time  the  locality  bore  the  name  "Forks  of  the  Delaware,"  for 
the  Lehigh  and  the  Bushkill  empty  into  the  Delaware  at  that  j^oint.  Phillips- 
BURG,  on  the  east  of  the  Delaware,  opposite  Easton,  was  Indian-village  already 
in  1654.  The  name  Phillipsburg  occurs  on  a  map  as  early  as  1749.  Here 
there  was  a  Mr.  Martin  who  held  the  ferry  rights,  from  Tinicum,  an  island,  a  few 
miles  south  of  Easton,  up  to  Marble  Mountain,  one  mile  above  Easton.  The  town 
was  laid  out  in  1750 ;  and  some  years  before  this,  about  one  mile  from  the  town, 
on  the  Philadelphia  road,  and  on  the  land  of  Leonard  Walter,  there  stood  a 
church  in  which  the  Lutherans  held  their  services.  Two  baptisms  are  recorded 
already  in  1733.  See  5th  Continuation,  I.  1747,  "In  March,"  etc.  It  is  not  known 
by  whom  these  baptisms  were  administered.  The  first  preacher  was  John  Justus 
Jacob  Birkenstock,  1740-1744,  who  preached  also  in  the  Jordan  Church,  at  the 
same  time.  As  early  as  1745,  1746,  Pev.  David  Brainerd  preached,  occasionally, 
here.  This  zealous  and  faithful  missionary,  who  had  been  sent  to  the  Indians  in 
New  Jersey  and  neighboring  provinces,  by  the  Scotch  Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  Christianity,  remained  over  a  year  at  the  Forks  of  the  Delaware,  afterwards 
Easton,  and  preached  to  the  English  inhabitants,  and  also,  to  the  Germans  settled 
there.  (Fresenius  Pastoralsammlungen,  3.  Theil,  p.  164,  sqq.,  175,  178,  etc. ;  4. 
Theil,  p.  70.)  W^e  infer  from  Halle  Reports,  p.  58,  Sect.  17,  that  Muhlenberg 
visited  the  Lutherans  here  in  1745,  and  after  due  instruction,  confirmed  several 
young  persons.  He  understood,  soon  enough,  the  importance  of  the  place.  We 
find  him  there  again  in  March,  1747,  (Halle  Reports,  p.  215),  and  1745-1749,  he 
and  Nicholas  Kurtz  operate  there  as  occasion  requires.  In  1749-1753  Pastor  Lu- 
dolph  Henry  Schrenk  served  the  congregation,  and,  at  the  same  time,  those  in 
Saucon  and  Upper-Milford.  When  Pastor  Schrenk  took  charge  of  the  church  in 
Raritan,  N.  J.,  a  vagrant  sneaked  in  and  disturbance  followed  until,  in  1754,  Pas- 
tor John  Andrew  Friderici  settled  in  Saucon,  and  then,  some  years  afterwards, 
became  pastor  at  Easton.  In  1762  he  moved  from  Saucon  to  Smithfield.  From 
May  until  Dec,  1768,  Pastor  Daniel  Schumacher  preached  there,  once  a  month. 
Already  in  1762  the  congregation  on  the  Philadelphia  road  was  united  with  the 
one  in  Easton,  and  a  building  for  Divine  worship  and  for  a  school,  in  South  3d  St., 
was  purchased  for  400  pounds  (|1066),  the  congregation  in  Easton,  as  appears  in 
the  Journal  of  Pastor  Schumacher,  having  previously  worshipped  in  a  schoolhouse. 
In  Dec,  1763,  Pastor  Bernhard  Michael  Hausihl,  Avhom  we  meet  repeatedly  in  the 
Halle  Reports,  was  called  to  Easton,  but  he  did  not  remain  long.    In  1769,  Pastor 


NOTES    TO    THE   SECOND    CONTINUATION.  169 

Christian  Streit  took  charge  of  the  congregation  and  began  the  regular  Church 
Records,  which  were  in  the  possession  of  tiie  congregation  at  the  time  when 
Pastor  J.  W.  Eichards  preached  a  sermon  upon  its  history.  Since  that  time, 
these  S-ecords  have  been  lost.  The  oldest  Book  of  Records  now  known  was 
begun  by  Pastor  Dr.  Endress. 

The  corner-stone  of  a  stone  church,  in  which  the  Reformed  also  had  a  share, 
was  laid  June  8th,  1775;  and  the  church  was  consecrated  Nov.  17th,  1776.  It  is 
now  wholly  in  the  possession  of  the  Reformed.  Pastor  Frederick  Ernst  had 
charge  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  from  June  1780  till  1782;  Solomon  Friede- 
rici  1782  to  1798;  Pastor  Aug.  Henry  Schmidt  1799  to  1801.  Upon  his  arrival 
in  America  he  had  settled  at  Tohikon,  Pa.,  in  1795;  and  furnished  an  interesting 
report  of  his  visit  to  the  Synod  in  York,  Pa.,  1796,  for  ''  Henke's  Archiv,"  Vol. 
5,  pp.  237,  569.  In  Nov.  1801,  Pastor  Christian  Fr.  Louis  Endress  took  charge 
of  the  congregation,  and,  excepting  one  year,  served  it  until  1815,  when  he  suc- 
ceeded Pastor  Dr.  G.  H.  Ernst  Muhlenberg  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  remained 
until  his  decease.  Rev.  John  P.  Hecht  was  pastor  in  Easton  1815  to  1845.  In 
1830  the  Lutherans  separated  from  the  Reformed  and  erected  their  own  church, 
St.  John's,  which  they  occupy  at  the  present  time.  The  corner-stone  of  this 
church  was  laid  May  31st,  1830 ;  the  church  was  consecrated  Jan.  1st,  1832.  Since 
then  the  pastors  have  been  as  follows:  Nov.  1845  to  March  1851,  Dr.  John  W. 
Richards;  April  1851  to  April  1856,  Dr.  Charles  F.  Schjeffer;  April  1856  to  May 
1862,  Dr.  B.  Sadtler;  Aug.  1862  to  Nov.  1867,  Pastor  B.  M.  Schmucker;  1868  to 
1874,  Pastor  Ed.  Belfour;  and  since  1874,  Pastor  J.  R.  GrofF.  See  M.  S.  Henry's 
History  of  Lehigh  Valley,  p.  48,  sqq. — Sermon  of  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Richards,  Eas- 
ton, 1851. 

2°  Probably  this  is  Cohanzey  (Bridgeton),  Cumberland  Co.,  N.  J. 

2  1  This  is  the  region  of  the  river  Mohawk.  See  Fred.  Kapp's  History  of 
the  Germans  in  the  State  of  N.  Y.,  etc.,  1867,  pp.  83,  146,  153,  sqq.  Many 
Germans  had  been  settled  in  these  parts  for  a  long  time,  and  here  the  names 
of  the  Weisers,  father  and  son,  were  well  known. 


170  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION. 


APPENDIX  TO  SECOND  CONTINUA- 
TION. 


I. 

Reverend  Fathers  in  Christ! 

Twice  already  tliis  fall,  have  we  been  refreshed  by  your  fatherly 
communications.  Having  been  informed  in  both  of  them,  that  the 
results  of  collections  and  benevolent  contributions  would  authorize  us 
to  draw,  by  Bill  of  Exchange,  for  70  pounds,  and  again  for  50  pounds, 
we  have  done  so,  through  Messrs.  Baker  and  Broughdon,  Secretary, 
etc.  As  some  vessels  are  about  to  sail  we  send  reports  of  our  work,  by 
them.  Two  weeks  ago  I  sent  a  letter  and  Bill  of  Exchange  by  the  ship 
of  Mr.  Peter  Koch,  which  sails  via  Ireland.  In  that  letter  I  have  re- 
ported certain  matters  only  in  a  general  way ;  but  I  hope,  at  an  early 
time,  to  speak  more  particularly. 

Since  the  arrival  of  my  brethren  and  assistants  I  have  had  very 
little  leisure  or  rest.  I  have  to  be  continually  traveling  upon  my 
horse;  the  work  grows  larger  and  heavier.  I  was  obliged  to  travel 
twice,  to  the  province  of  New  Jersey,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  an 
old,  complicated,  troublesome  conflict  between  Magister  Wolf  and  the 
congregations  at  Raritan.  I  have  also  visited  Tulpehocken  twice. 
Two  diseases  have  been  raging  in  the  country  congregations;  and  this 
has  given  me  very  much  to  do.  Here  and  there,  are  congregations  in 
the  country  which  I  have  visited  occasionally.  The  building  of  my 
house  also,  has  embarrassed  me.  There  are  two  subordinate  congrega- 
tions ( Filials)  connected  with  the  church  at  Providence,  for  the  mem- 
bers are  very  widely  scattered,  some  of  them  living  as  far  as  ten  and 
twelve  miles  distant  from  the  church.  Now,  because  many  of  the 
weak  and  aged  members  cannot  travel  so  far,  and  the  little  children 
cannot  be  brought  over  such  distances,  to  be  baptised  in  the  church,  I 
therefore  have  an  occasional  service  during  the  week,  somewhere  along 
the  Skippach,  and  also,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Schuylkill ;  for  it  is 
often  a  very  troublesome  thing  for  the  people  to  have  to  ford  the  river. 

My  method  in  conducting  the  public  services,  for  about  eighteen 
months,  has  been  this :  The  sermon  itself  occupies  an  hour  or  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour.  Afterwards,  I  catechise  the  whole  congregation 
upon  the  subject  of  the  sermon;  and  I  have  found  this  to  be  useful, 
and  not  without  a  blessing.  It  Avould  seem  as  if  a  catechism  were  as 
necessary  for  us  as  is  our  daily  bread ;  for,  in  the  schools,  the  children 
ought^  to  be  well  grounded  in  'catechetical  doctrines ;  and  to  do  this,  the 
adoption  and  uniform  use  of  the  most  suitable  terms  for  expressing 
such  doctrines  is  important.     If  our  hopes  that  our  beloved  Father 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  171 

Ziegenhagen  will  help  us  in  this  matter,  should  fail  us,  then  we  shall 
have  to  prepare  another  regular  catechism  as  the  basis  of  our  instruc- 
tions. If  one  pastor  or  teacher  adopts  his  own  plan,  and  another  uses 
the  Wiirttemberg  catechism,  the  third  that  of  Giessen,  and  a  fourth  the 
Holstein  catechism,  confusion  would  be  sure  to  follow. 

I  have  therefore,  both  with  heart  and  voice,  continually  expressed 
the  hope  that  his  Reverence,  the  Court  Chaplain,  would  furnish  us 
with  a  catechism.  We  prize  his  beautiful  hymn  of  the  Faith,  or  Order 
of  Salvation  (Glaubensliedj  most  highly;  but  it  has  no  reference  to  the 
holy  Sacraments ;  and  I  fear  that  any  attempt  to  introduce  such  refer- 
ence might  damage  the  hymn  itself.  We  might  thereby  put  ourselves 
in  the  position  of  Melanchthon  when  he  undertook  to  improve  the 
poetry  of  the  hymn,  "  Nun  freut  euch  lieben  Christengmein." 

After  closing  my  last  letter  I  added  a  note  in  which  I  said,  in  effect, 
that  I  had  Avished  to  have  two  pastors  instead  of  the  two  catechists.  I 
hope  that  my  reverend  Fathers  will  not  take  this  as  though  I  com- 
plained about  the  catechists.  Far  from  it.  On  the  contrary,  our  tes- 
timony is  that  they  are  true  and  faithful  in  their  work  and  that  they 
encourage  us  to  hope  for  good  things.  We  cannot  be  thankful  enough 
to  God,  and  to  our  Fathers  for  having  selected  them  and  sent  them  to 
us.  I  have  not  yet  been  informed  whether  my  letter  to  Dr.  Francke, 
and  also  my  letter  to  Madame  von  Munchhausen,  and  to  my  own  rela- 
tions, which  I  had  sent  via  Amsterdam,  by  a  Dutch  shijj,  have  heen  re- 
ceived. Thank  God,  we  are,  all  four  of  us,  well,  so  far,  and  each  one 
is  active  at  his  work. 

After  long  consideration  and  carefully  conferring  with  each  other, 
my  colleague  and  myself  have  made  the  following  arrangement:  He 
takes  special  charge  of  the  two  congregations  in  the  city  ( Philadelphia 
and  Germantown),  and  I,  of  the  two  in  the  country,  yet  with  the  under- 
standing that  we  confer  wdth  each  other  about  all  our  official  duties, 
discharge  them  as  associated  pastors  and  occasionally  exchange  pulpits, 
etc.  My  colleague  has  secured  the  confidence  of  the  congregations  in 
the  city,  and  his  labors  among  them  have  been  blest ;  which  is  a  great 
joy  to  me.  I  hope  that  patience  will  still  be  maintained,  and  with  the 
help  of  God,  everything  will  be  brought  into  good  order,  in  due  time. 
The  reason  for  our  begging  so  earnestly  that  Brother  Albinus  or  some 
other  faithful  servant  might  be  sent  to  us  is  this :  several  congregations 
are  worrving  us  to  help  them ;  and  two  congregations  "on  the  Raritan, 
in  Jersev,  are  specially  importunate  for  speedy  assistance.  They  are 
even  willing  to  bear  a  portion  of  the  expenses  of  the  voyage.  But, 
delays  are  dangerous,  for  false  teachers  are  sneaking  about  on  all  hands, 
and  the  office  of  an  Evangelical  Lutheran  pastor  has  been  much  scan- 
dalized by  the  misconduct  of  Magister  Wolf.  I  instructed  and  con- 
firmed twenty-four  adults,  a  short  time  ago,  at  that  place.  The  people 
expressed  their  wishes  to  me,  with  many  tears  and  great  earnestness. 

Philadelphia,  Nov.  17th,  1745. 

Muhlenberg. 


172  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

I  hope  that  our  reverend  Fathers  will  be  pleased  to  give  prompt  at- 
tention to  the  matter  concerning  Mr.  Albinus  or  some  other  faithful 
laborer;  for  there  is  periculum  in  mora.  If  ue  should  be  so  favored 
as  to  have  Mr.  Albinus  sent  to  us,  then  our  wants  would  be  met.  Under 
our  circumstances,  the  object  contemplated  by  the  appointment  of  our 
worthy  catechists  is  not  so  satisfactorily  attained  as  it  is  in  the  case  of 
regular  pastors.  It  requires  as  much  to  support  a  catechist  as  it  does 
to  support  a  pastor ;  and  a  pastor  can  himself  teach  a  school,  or  place 
the  school  under  the  care  of  some  young  person ;  but  a  catechist  can- 
not do  the  work  of  a  pastor,  nor  administer  the  sacraments ;  and  cate- 
chists are  apt  to  think  that  they  are  of  too  much  consequence  to  keep 
school.  The  school  is  kept  open  only  in  the  winter ;  in  summer  it  is 
closed,  and  the  support  of  the  catechist  is  somewhat  expensive.  In 
Providence  I  have  a  bright  young  man  who  teaches  the  school  during 
the  winter,  and  in  summer  supports  himself  by  manual  labor. 

Congregations  are  being  formed  all  around,  and  if  the  pastors  and 
catechists  are  to  have  a  respectable  support  many  a  shilling  will  be  re- 
quired. Mj  colleague,  Brunnholtz,  has  to  keep  a  horse  in  the  city, 
which  Mr.  Schaum  also  uses,  occasionally.  Mr.  Kurtz  has  a  horse  in 
New  Hanover,  and  I  one  in  Providence.  Here  we  have  first  the  cost 
of  the  purchase  of  a  horse,  and  afterwards  the  cost  of  feeding  him ; 
and  yet  without  horses  it  is  not  possible  for  us  to  do  our  duty.  I 
should  have  written,  long  ago,  to  our  excellent  and  sympathizing  bene- 
factor. Rev.  Pastor  Meier,  in  Halle ;  but  I  could  not  find  time  to  do  it. 
During  the  whole  year  I  have  had  very  little  rest,  for  there  is  no  end 
to  my  having  to  move  hither  and  thither,  always  on  horseback. 


II. 

Eeverend  Fathers  in  Christ! 

I  have  promised,  several  times  already,  to  report  to  you  more  par- 
ticularly, upon  the  state  of  aflfairs  as  it  is  at  present.  As  long  as  I  was 
the  only  preacher  in  this  field,  not  being  able  to  operate  at  three  dif- 
ferent places  at  the  same  time,  wailing  and  lamentation  for  the  want 
of  teachers  and  assistants  prevailed.  As  soon,  however,  as  God  in  His 
Avondrous  grace,  and  by  the  action  of  His  servants,  had  sent  us  three 
assistants,  a  heavy  burden  was  taken  off  of  my  heart,  and  I  began  at 
once  to  divide  my  work,  and  to  lay  a  portion  upon  the  heart  of  each 
of  my  faithful  brethren.  It  soon  began  to  be  noised  abroad  through 
the  land,  that  three  preachers  had  arrived.  The  people  here  know 
nothing  about  catechists,  and  every  servant  can  play  the  part  of  a 
schoolmaster,  who  makes  his  living  by  school-teaching  in  the  winter 
and  by  farm  work  in  summer.  We  explained,  however,  to  the  church 
oflacers  that  Mr.  Brunnholtz  w^as  an  ordained  preacher  and  the  other 
two  were  students  of  theology. 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  173 

First  of  all,  we  drew  up  a  call  in  the  English  language,  for  the  con- 
gregations in  Philadelphia  and  Germantown,  entering  our  own  names 
as  on  behalf  of  the  congregations :  "  By  our  supplications  sent  and  rep- 
resented Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  according  to  our  unaltered  Augsburg 
Confession,  etc.,  to  keep  and  to  maintain,  etc."  This  call  or  certificate 
of  a  call  we  also  wrote  in  the  church  book,  and  then  requested  the 
deacons  and  members  of  the  congregations  to  subscribe  it  with  their 
own  names,  and  at  the  same  time  to  put  down,  each  one  for  himself, 
the  sum  of  money  that  he  would  contribute  every  year  for  the  support 
of  the  pastor.  After  this  obligation  was  finished,  some  dissatisfaction 
began  to  be  expressed  in  Germantown,  as  though  they  had  bound 
themselves  for  life ;  we  preachers  might  depart  from  the  true  faith,  or 
we  might  grow  too  old  and  incapacitated  to  serve  as  their  pastors ; 
specially  they  had  tAvo  notable  examples  that  constrained  them  to  say : 
"vestigia  me  terrent."  Preacher  Andrese  had  once  made  a  written 
contract,  for  life,  with  his  congregations,  and  when  a  member,  on  ac- 
count of  Andrese's  ungodly  life,  refused  to  pay,  it  led  to  a  violent  law 
suit  that  was  expensive  for  both  parties.  The  other  example  was  that 
of  Magister  Wolf,  who  had  been  sent  from  Hamburg  to  the  Karitan, 
in  the  neighboring  province  of  Jersey.  Instead  of  building  up  the 
congregations  he  miserably  broke  them  down ;  and  has  been  prosecut- 
ing a  suit  in  court  against  the  people  for  about  eight  years  already. 

The  dissatisfaction,  however,  above  referred  to,  arose  from  another 
source,  which  I  shall  now  explain. 

]\Ir.  Brunnholtz  and  myself  united  together  in  administering  the 
Lord's  Supper  in  Germantown.  During  the  examination  at  confession 
I  had,  in  a  spirit  of  love  and  meekness,  admonished  some  of  the  deacons, 
with  reference  to  certain  offences  which  were  so  open  and  public,  that 
even  the  children  on  the  streets  had  witnessed  them.  This  enraged 
these  men ;  and  so  they  began  to  work  against  me  in  every  way.  Yet 
when  I  stated  to  the  congregation  that  I  would  erase  my  name  from 
the  call  and  see  if  they  would  show  more  respect  to  my  colleague, 
Brunnholtz,  the  congregation  rose  at  once  against  these  disorderly  dea- 
cons and  moved  to  excommunicate  them ;  but  the  matter  was  compro- 
mised and  peace  was  restored.  On  that  same  occasion,  I  requested 
another  man  to  tarry  a  few  moments  as  I  wished  to  speak  with  him  in 
private.  He  did  remain,  and  I  spoke  with  him  about  his  wife  who  was 
often  intoxicated,  and  whose  conduct  was  grossly  indecent.  Hereupon 
he  was  so  enraged  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  I  escaped  his  cane ; 
and  afterwards  he  even  threatened  to  require  me  to  give  proof  of  this 
charge  before  the  law.  This  man  was  excommunicated.  He  has  a 
house-full  of  children,  the  most  of  whom  I  have  instructed  and  con- 
firmed. The  children  walk  upon  the  whole,  uprightly  and  in  a  Chris- 
tian way ;  they  also  attend  the  church.  There  is  yet  a  considerable 
number  of  such  rough  branches ;  and  if  we  come  too  close  home  to 
their  consciences,  then  they  let  loose  and  cry  out  "What  right  has  the 


174  APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

priest  over  me?  of  course  I  pay  him  by  the  year;  but  if  his  preaching 
does  not  please  my  taste,  I'll  go  to  another  church  and  get  my  preach- 
ing for  nothing." 

Other  people,  however,  are  so  friendly  that  if  they  could  they  would 
divide  their  own  hearts  with  their  pastor.  Such  persons  often  plead 
with  tears  that  we  should  not  let  them  suffer  for  the  acts  of  our  oppo- 
nents. These  devout  people  are  for  the  most  part  poor.  It  is  a  hard 
thing  when  the  pastor  has  to  depend  for  his  support  upon  congrega- 
tions the  larger  part  of  the  membership  of  which  is  yet  unconverted. 

Now,  to  return  to  the  first  point :  the  question  arises,  what  shall  be 
done  with  the  catechists?  Are  we  to  introduce  them  as  mere  school- 
masters? In  that  case  they  would  hardly  command  the  respect  or  the 
support  to  which  they  are  entitled.  Shall  we  describe  them  and  treat 
them  as  students  of  theology?  Then  people  would  directly  demand 
that  they  should  preach  also,  for  in  this  country  there  are  many  who, 
though  they  have  never  studied  anything  at  all,  do  preach  neverthe- 
less and  often  three  times  a  day.  But  if  there  are  four  clergymen  in 
four  congregations,  then  there  will  have  to  be  a  sermon  preached  to 
every  one  of  them  every  Sunday.  Whenever  a  congregation  is  not 
supplied  in  this  respect,  then  other  preachers  show  themselves,  preach- 
ing here  and  there  in  some  dwelling-house  and  holding  meetings,  and 
as  the  people  want  to  hear  something  they  gather  about  such  places. 
If  we  would  offer  to  appoint  some  one  to  read  a  sermon  to  them,  we 
were  told  that  this  would  not  satisfy  the  people,  also  "  viva  vox  docet," 
they  added  further,  w^e  can  read  sermons  for  ourselves  at  home  and 
need  not  to  travel  four,  five,  six,  seven  miles,  and  to  pass  through 
rivers,  swamps  and  thickets  for  such  a  purpose.  Whilst  Ave  dutifully 
respected  the  inslructions  of  our  fathers  forbidding  the  catechists  to 
preach,  we  had  to  consider  very  carefully  what  was  best  to  be  done 
under  the  circumstances.  So  we  had  the  schools  commenced  at  once. 
Mr.  Kurtz  was  sent  to  New  Hanover  to  Mr.  Vigera  to  occupy  the  new 
school-house,  and  the  congregation  was  publicly  informed  that  he  was 
"assistant"  (helper)  a  name  well  known  along  the  Khein  and  equiva- 
lent to  "substitute."  His  chief  duty  was  to  teach  the  school,  but 
besides  that  he  was  to  assist  in  preaching,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  pas- 
tor, in  casu  necessitatis,  to  baptize  infants,  which  midwives  are  other- 
wise permitted  to  do.  Mr.  Schaum  began  the  school  in  the  city,  and 
it  was  settled  that  he  too  should  render  assistance  in  preaching,  and 
also  baptize  in  casu  necessitatis. 

However,  as  we  knew  that  they  had  had  very  little  experience  in 
preaching  and  in  catechising  we  thought  it  would  be  advisable  for 
them  to  commit  to  memory  one  of  Kambach's  sermons  on  the  catechism 
during  the  week  and  then  to  deliver  it  on  Sunday.  In  this  w  ay  the 
catechists  themselves  would  have  catechetical  truths  impressed  upon 
their  memories,  the  congregations  would  hear  a  Rambach  preaching 
upon  the  chief  points  of  the  catechism,  and  so  all  parties  would  be  well 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  175 

served.  Mr.  Schaum  applied  himself  very  diligently,  but  it  is  a  pity 
that  he  stutters ;  he  often  repeats  a  word  hve  or  six  times  and  makes 
mistakes.  He  has  acquired  more  confidence  through  his  practice,  but 
he  has  not  yet  laid  off  his  stammering.  Mr.  Kurtz  was  "substitute" 
in  the  country  congregations,  preaching  one  Sunday  in  New  Hanover, 
the  other  in  Providence  as  it  is  usual  lor  the  catechists  to  interchange 
with  the  pastors.  At  first  he  confined  himself  to  the  memorizing  of 
his  sermon.  But  as  he  got  along  so  well  in  his  own  opinion  and  as 
some  foolish  people  flattered  him  he  began  to  preach  sermons  partly 
extempore  and  partly  his  own  composition.  This  we  forbade  and 
undertook  to  prevent,  but  we  cannot  ourselves  always  be  present.  In 
a  word,  in  writing  his  discourses  he  went  so  far  as  to  parade  personal 
and  private  affairs  openly  in  the  pulpit,  matters  and  things  that  had 
occurred  in  the  private  history  of  the  deacons  and  members  of  the 
congregation.  This  gave  me  much  trouble,  and  as  nearly  the  whole 
of  my  time  was  occupied,  partly  in  the  city,  partly  in  the  country  and 
I  could  not  be  always  with  him,  the  old  Adam  grew  so  strong  in  him 
that  he  began  to  think  that  he  himself  was  the  only  preacher  in  the 
land  and  all  the  rest  of  us  Avere  blusterers. 

He  bought  a  horse  and  saddle  for  himself  for  12  pounds,  of  which  I 
had  known  nothing,  and  he  promised  to  pay  during  the  next  autumn. 
With  the  meadows  and  other  grounds  connected  with  the  school-house 
there  is  land  enough  to  support  two  horses.  The  members  of  the  con- 
gregation offer  so  many  kind  gifts  in  the  form  of  meat  and  drink  that 
there  is  a  superabundance.  So  a  man  and  his  wife,  themselves  poor 
people,  have  been  allowed  to  occupy  the  old  school-house,  so  that 
they  may  wait  upon  the  catechist  and  attend  to  his  cooking  and  wash- 
ing. He  raises  fowls  and  capons.  In  the  winter  he  teaches  about 
thirty  or  forty  children,  but  this  work  continues  only  for  half  the  year 
because  the  peo]:)le  in  the  country  require  their  children  to  work  during 
the  summer.  He  gets  five  shillings  per  quarter  for  each  child.  When 
he  baptizes  a  child  he  is  paid  one  shilling  for  recording  it.  When  he 
attends  a  funeral  in  my  absence,  whether  of  child  or  adult,  he  is  paid 
from  five  to  eio:ht  shillings  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the  family. 
He  can  live  iik§  a  nobleman  in  Germany.  In  my  heart  I  wish  that 
he  may  live  in  meekness  and  walk  in  an  humble  spirit. 

My  reverend  fathers,  I  have  to  say  that  if  a  preacher  or  catechist 
from  Europe  has  not  been  thoroughly  converted  then  we  can  entertain 
but  poor  hopes  of  him  in  Pennsylvania.  The  condition  of  affairs  m 
this  free,  strano:e  country  is  such  that  people  are  very  easily  seduced 
into  carnal  indulgence  and  dissolute  habits,  and  for  young  beginners 
especially  the  danger  is  imminent. 

After  great  toil  and  trouble  I  have,  with  the  help  of  God,  brought 
the  congregation  at  New  Hanover  into  such  a  condition  that  it  is  now, 
perhaps,  the  largest  cong^regation  in  the  whole  country ;  and  although 
it  may  yet  have  some  wild  old  branches,  nevertheless  the  Divine  bless- 


176  APPE>'DIX   TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

ing  abounds  upon  it,  and  some  of  its  members  are  specially  rich  in 
good  works.  If  Mr.  Kurtz  were  ordained  he  could,  perhaj^s,  live  here 
alone,  and,  at  the  same  time,  serve  other  congregations  in  the  country. 
My  colleague,  Brunnholtz,  and  myself,  had  prepared  a  call  and  in- 
structions for  Mr.  Kurtz,  in  English,  and  designated  him  as  schoolmas- 
ter and  assistant  at  New  Hanover.  This  he  casually  saw  and  exam- 
ined in  mv  absence,  and  complained  about  it  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Schaum, 
in  this  stvle :  that  we  had  put  our  heads  together  and  spelled  out  a 
call  for  him,  intending  to  make  him  a  schoolmaster ;  but  that  he  must 
have  patience  and  must  put  up  with  it.  For  this  I  took  him  entirely 
alone,  and,  with  the  earnest  heart  of  a  brother,  I  urged  him  to  sincere 
repentance.  He  then  promised,  with  tears,  to  follow  the  thread, 
(Faden,  Filum)  which  the  fathers  had  given  him.  Mr.  Vigera  va- 
cated the  school-house  and  moved  to  the  house  of  a  member  of  the 
congregation  at  New  Hanover,  intending,  contrary  to  my  wishes,  to 
keep  a  private  school.  However,  he  is  now  ready  to  move  to  some 
other  place,  as  we  may  direct,  and  take  charge  of  a  public  school. 

Afterwards  I  had  opportunity,  in  the  country,  to  become  more  in- 
timate with  him ;  and  now  I  have  no  cause  to  complain.  He  is  willing 
to  take  advice,  is  attentive  to  the  school,  and  whenever  he  preaches 
he  delivers  a  sermon  of  Rambach's  Avhich  he  copies  off  beforehand.  I 
hope  that  my  reverend  fathers  will  not  misunderstand  me  in  these 
complaints  of  my  heart,  concerning  matters  which  have  given  me 
trouble. 

I  have  also  to  request  that  my  reverend  fathers  will  not  allow  what 
I  have .  here  written  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  catechists ;  for  it 
might  excite  in  them  a  secret  mistrust  towards  us,  and  even  array 
them  against  us  at  last.  Mr.  Schaum  has  said,  several  times,  that  he 
would  go  back  to  Germany  at  the  end  of  his  three  years.  Now,  I  do 
not  know  whether  our  reverend  fathers  have  contracted  with  him  for 
three  years  or  not ;  neither  do  I  know  what  reason  he  has  for  going 
back ;  particularly  since  his  salary  is  certainly  enough  to  meet  his  ne- 
cessities, and  probably  he  has  things  more  comfortable  than  either  my 
colleague  or  myself.  I  have  represented  to  him  the  great  expense  of 
the  voyage  and  the  gracious  and  wonderful  leadings  of  God;  and  now 
he  is  satisfied  again. 

To  end  this  subject,  here  is  ecclesia  plantanda,  in  a  juncture  that  is 
quite  critical;  and  for  this  work  experienced  men,  strong  men  are 
needed,  men  who  will  stand  in  the  breach,  and  in  whom  great  patience 
and  self-denial  shall  be  joined  with  the  daring  of  a  hero.  I  am  not 
the  man,  as  my  reverend  Fathers  well  know;  but  I  hold  my  excellent 
colleague,  Brunnholtz,  to  be  such  a  man ;  and  my  wish  is,  that  he  had 
two  or  three  assistants  like  himself.  Then  the  work  would  prosper. 
God  could  easily  find  work  for  me  in  some  obscure  corner. 

2.  As  to  my  having  taken  a  wife,  I  can  say,  that  it  had  always  been 
my  intention  to  remain  unmarried;  but,  very  likely,  the  devil,  in  his 


APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION.  177 

cimning,  tried  to  involve  me  in  a  dilemma.  I  Avas  often  vexed  to  find 
how  many  people  were  concerned  about  securing  my  welfare  through  a 
marriage.  When  I  was  in  the  city  I  was  told,  "Sir,  you  must  stay  in 
this  country  and  be  with  us.  I  know  a  good  espouse  for  you.  Here 
or  there  is  an  opportunity,"  etc.  When  I  was  in  the  country,  some 
rude,  blunt  settler  or  other  would  say,  "  The  parson  must  become  my 
son."  Besides,  circumstances  of  a  private  nature  often  occurred  in  the 
course  of  my  pastoral  duty,  visiting  the  sick  and  the  like.  Now,  had 
I  yielded  to  the  spirit  and  fashion  of  the  world,  and  made  wealth  an 
object,  I  would  have  been  involved,  very  soon.  But  when  I  made  up 
my  mind  to  live  unmarried  then  the  devil  went  to  work  in  an  infam- 
ous way  Avith  gross  and  outrageous  slanders  to  befoul  me  and  my  work, 
of  which  I  have  already  given  an  instance,  to  wit,  the  case  of  that  crea- 
ture who  had  to  undergo  public  penance  in  the  church.  I  could  not 
get  along  without  some  female  attendant.  I  could  not  and  W(Uild 
not  employ  young  girls,  and  old  women  require  servants  themselves, 
etc.  Also,  when  a  clerical  brother  would  visit  me  then  such  attendant 
became  specially  necessary.  As  to  the  principle  of  selection  I  con- 
sidered nothing  than  sincere  piety  as  requisite,  such  as  might  be  "  con- 
versable "  both  for  myself  and  for  my  work.  The  Lord  also  regarded 
my  prayers  and  granted  me  a  young  woman  who  is  pure  of  heart, 
pious,  unpretentious,  meek  and  active. 

My  wile's  parents  are  Lutherans  by  descent,  but  as  religious  affairs 
were  in  such  confusion  in  this  country,  my  ftither-in-law  has  had  a  very 
varied  experience  in  that  respect.  He  was  first  awakened  by  the 
reading  of  the  church-postils  of  the  sainted  Prof  ^Francke.  After- 
wards he  had  some  connection  with  the  so-called  Sabbath  Friends, 
who  insisted  so  much  upon  the  matter  of  self-denial  and  at  first  had  a 
great  following.  At  the  beginning  he  thought  well  of  them,  because 
they  made  such  diligent  use  of  the  writings  of  the  fathers  at  Halle. 
This,  however,  did  not  last  long;  then  came  the  followers  of  Dippel, 
disseminating  his  writings  also,  and  the  result  was  that  people  began 
to  reject  Jesus  Christ.  So  my  father-in-law  left  them  at  once.  When 
Count  Zinzendorf  appeared  and  presented  the  doctrine  of  atonement 
through  the  Redeemer  so  prominently,  he  thought  he  had  found  the 
truth  at  last.  The  Count  paid  him  great  attention  at  once,  for  he 
supposed  that  by  my  father-in-law's  influence  he  might  find  his  way 
open  to  reach  the  wild  Indians.  Indeed,  .the  Count  prevailed  upon 
him  to  teach  several  persons  the  Indian  language.  He  made  extraor- 
dinary efforts  to  secure  this  man  and  his  family  for  his  cause.  When- 
ever in  the  conferences  held  by  the  Count  any  reference  is  made  to  a 
personage  of  official  rank,  that  personage  always  is  Conrad  Weiser. 
However,  he  has  a  wise  head  and  does  not  commit  himself,  and  as  he 
would  not  adopt  all  their  plans,  the  Count  said  that  he  had  too  much 
judgment  (zu  viel  Yernunft),  and  that  was  the  reason  Avhy  he  could 
not  go  the  Avhole  length  with  them.  Whilst  the  matter  above  sj^oken 
12 


178  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

of  was  as  yet  in  progress,  the  Moravian  preacher,  Pyrlaeus,  entered  his 
compkiints  and  said  that  it  was  not  at  all  right  for  him  to  give  me  his 
daughter  as  my  wife,  for  the  child  could  have  been  married  to  much 
greater  advantage  amongst  them.  Caetera  transeant.  The  whole 
affair  was  the  occasion  of  much  talk  and  gossiping,  pro  and  con.  But 
my  congregations  are  w^ell  satisfied,  and  extend  to  my  wife  many  proofs 
of  their  regard  and  love. 

At  first  my  wife  and  I  lived  three  months  in  Philadelphia,  and 
my  colleague  Brunnholtz  w^as  occupied  in  the  country  congregations. 
After  much  deliberation  and  viewing  the  matter  on  all  sides,  we  finally 
agreed  to  exchange  our  positions,  and  for  the  folloAvin'g  reasons: 

1.  When  I  was  the  only  pastor  here,  very  rarely  receiving  letters 
from  Europe,  and  when  Preacher  Andrese  had  almost  succeeded  in 
raising  a  rebellion  in  the  congregation  in  the  city,  the  congregations  in 
Xew  Hanover  and  Providence  united  in  the  petition  that  I  should 
promise  them  to  live  and  die  in  the  midst  of  them ;  that  if  no  help 
should  arrive  from  Europe  and  I  would  find  myself  unable  to  endure 
the  labors  of  the  three  congregations,  I  should  then  leave  Philadelphia 
and  stay  with  them.  Upon  this  they  gave  me  a  regular  call,  in  Eng- 
lish, as  pastor  of  the  country  congregations  for  life,  and  a  deacon  pur- 
chased for  me  a  good  and  convenient  piece  of  ground  for  a  pastoral 
residence.  As  the  movements  of  Andrese,  however,  were  arrested,  this 
whole  business  remained  stationary  until  the  arrival  of  my  colleague 
Brunnholtz,  and  then  the  congregations  in  the  country  renewed  their 
request  that  I  should  go  to  them  and  build  my  house. 

2.  My  colleague  is  of  quite  delicate  constitution,  and  in  the  city  he 
can  have  more  prompt  attendance  and  more  of  the  advantages  of 
friendly  care. 

3.  Again,  I  will  find  it  more  convenient  to  keep  house  in  the  country 
where  the  people,  though  not  able  to  raise  much  money,  can  neverthe- 
less easily  pay  a  salary  in  the  form  of  provisions  and  such  produce  as 
is  necessary  for  housekeeping. 

4.  My  colleague  would  have  to  rent  a  house  in  the  country,  and  I 
would  have  to  pay  a  heavy  rent  in  the  city,  and  in  the  meantime  my 
land  in  the  country  would  be  untilled  and  unproductive. 

5.  The  congregations  in  Philadelphia  and  Germantown  are  smaller 
and  more  compact  than  those  in  the  country. 

6.  It  is  much  more  necessary  for  a  pastor  in  the  country  to  keep 
riding  about,  than  for  one  in  the  city,  and  my  colleague  preferred  to 
stay  with  Mr.  Schaum  in  the  city,  and  that  I  should  labor  with  Mr. 
Kurtz  in  the  country. 

7.  Our  reverend  Fathers  had  specified  Germantown  as  a  supplement 
in  the  call  given  to  Mr.  Brunnholtz,  consequently  he  has  the  first  right 
to  it. 

8.  My  colleague  in  his  personal  intercourse  with  city  people  is  able 
to  speak  more  to  their  edification  than  I  am.     In  short,  after  much 


APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION.  179 

consideration  this  arrangement  seemed  to  us  to  be  the  best,  and  so  it 
shall  remain  until  our  reverend  Fathers  approve  of  it,  or  order  other- 
wise. In  addition,  we  have  agreed  to  exchange  with  each  other  every 
four  or  six  weeks,  and  to  confer  together  upon  our  work  as  often  as  we 
may  have  time  to  do  so. 

Now,  as  the  result  of  all  was  that  I  had  to  move  into  the  country,  I 
found  that  I  had  a  very  heavy  undertaking  in  the  building  of  my 
house.  I  am  yet  in  debt  for  the  land,  and  besides  I  had  to  begin  the 
serious  work  of  building  empty  handed.  The  congregation  itself  indeed 
ought  to  have  built  a  house  for  the  pastor,  but  their  poverty  forbade 
it,  especially  as  the  debt  on  the  church  has  not  yet  been  paid.  So  I 
was  compelled  to  begin  the  work  myself,  and  it  cost  me  about  200 
pounds,  current  money.  Although  it  brings  me  somewhat  into  debt, 
still  I  have  a  respectable  home  wdiere  I  can  raise  the  necessary  grain 
for  my  bread,  keep  a  horse,  a  pair  of  horned  cattle,  and  keep  house 
with  more  comfort  and  economy.  Here  then  we  have  our  earthly 
abode  where  we  can  dry  our  garments  after  exposure  to  storms  and 
rains.  We  rejoice  in  the  lot  assigned  to  us,  that  our  home  is  in  Provi- 
dence until  we  reach  the  true  Fatherland  at  last. 

During  this  year  in  which  I  have  been  married  I  have  gone  to  Tul- 
pehocken  three  times.  The  first  time  was  when  I  visited  the  congre- 
gation there  in  charge  of  Mr.  Wagner.  The  second  time  was  when  I 
went  to  my  wedding  in  company  with  my  colleague  Brunnholtz.  The 
third  time  I  went  to  visit  the  congregations  again,  because  they  had 
had  some  disagreement  with  Mr.  Wagner ;  I  went  also  for  the  purpose 
of  instructing  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  my  wife  and  preparing  them 
for  confirmation  and  the  Holy  Supper. 

As  these  congregations  were  not  altogether  satisfied  with  ]\Ir.  Wag- 
ner, they  begged  me  to  write  to  our  reverend  Fathers  and  so  to  secure  a 
faithful  pastor  for  them.  Accordingly  I  drew  up  a  petition  in  the 
shape  of  a  call  in  English,  which  included  also  a  pledge  regularly 
signed  by  the  congregation,  that  if  Mr.  Wagner  would  withdraw,  either 
I  or  my  colleague  should  serve  them  ad  interim,  until  our  reverend 
fathers  would  supply  them  with  a  competent  pastor.  Now,  as  this 
congregation  is  thus  connected  with  Mr.  Brunnholtz  and  myself,  we 
can  give  a  call  to  any  faithful  servant  whom  our  reverend  Fathers  may 
appoint,  in  the  following  articles: 

"We,  the  Church-wardens  and  members  of  the  Congregation,  desire, 
call  and  denominate  the  Eev.  H.  M.  Muehlenberg  to  be  our  lawful 
and  true  Minister  of  the  Gospel  according  to  the  Augsb.  Confession  as 
long  as  he  pleaseth  and  continues  to  be  a  true  Minister  upon  the 
following  Articuls  vid:  1)  we  will  assist  in  every  good  direction  the 
Kev.  Muehlenberg  or  his  successor  or  whom  he  sendeth  to  be  our 
Minister  etc.  2)  Our  lawful  Minister  H.  M.  Muehlenberg  shall  have 
liberty  to  send  another  Minister  of  the  College  etc.  3)  No  other  Min- 
ister shall  be  admitted  to  preach  or  to  administer  the  ordinances  in  our 


180  APPENDIX    TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

newbuilt  Church  without  the  consent  of  jMr.  M.  4)  We  promise  to 
build  a  house  upon  that  piece  of  ground,  belonging  to  our  Congrega- 
tion for  the  use  of  our  INIinister,  and  leave  the  ^vhole  church  land  to 
him  to  improve  etc.  and  to  feed  and  to  furnish  him  with  all  necessaries 
— as  our  subscription  witnesseth  etc.  5)  For  every  funeral  sermon 
shall  be  payed  5  shillings  and  for  a  coupel  to  join  6  shillings." 

However,  as  Mr.  Wagner  had  settled  matters  with  them  again,  I 
took  no  further  action.  But  now  they  have  given  Mr.  Wagner  notice 
to  quit,  which  he  himself  has  reciprocated,  and  so  next  spring  he  will 
go  somewhere  else.  What  is  to  be  done  now?  The  church  stands  here 
forsaken.  According  to  my  contract  we  ought  now  to  serve  them. 
If  we  fail  to  do  it,  the  Moravians  are  around  decoying  the  people,  and 
on  the  other  side  Stoever  is  w^orking  in  his  improper  ways.  Some  of 
these  people  are  willing  to  contribute  something  to  the  expenses  of  the 
journey,  as  my  father-in-law  is  willing  to  do,  but  upon  the  whole  they 
want  first  to  see  their  pastor.  Further,  these  good  people  have,  by 
their  own  efforts,  erected  a  fine,  large,  stone  church,  and  it  would  be^  a 
very  heavy  undertaking  if  they  had  to  build  a  house  for  the  pastor  in 
addition.  If  our  reverend  Fathers  could  and  would  send  them  an 
experienced  and  gifted  man  to  serve  them,  we  are  willing  to  do  what 
we  can  ad  interim.  The  Moravians  are  carrying  on  their  business 
after  a  fashion,  and  still  continue  to  give  out  that  they  are  Lutherans ; 
thev  have  also  recently  built  a  small  stone  church.  If  a  faithful  man 
should  come  he  would  find  a  large  field  to  work  in,  for  the  whole 
country  is  occupied  by  Germans,  and  my  father-in-law  who  is  Justice 
of  the  Peace  is  willing  to  render  help  in  every  good  work.  But  what 
shall  w^e  do  at  the  present  time?  The  people  want  us  to  send  Mr. 
Kurtz  ad  interim  until  our  reverend  Fathers  shall  send  them  some 
one.  They  are  willing  to  be  satisfied  so  long  with  a  catechist  or  sub- 
stitute. If  we  do  not  occupy  the  field  others  will  reap  where  they 
have  not  sowed.  So  I  beg  for  God's  sake  that  our  reverend  fathers 
will  again  stretch  forth  their  hands  to  save  this  new  congregation  that 
seems  now  to  be  in  the  last  extremity.  The  Lord  who  has  already 
shown  His  power  and  grace  so  clearly,  and  who  in  answer  to  so  many 
prayers  thrust  three  brethren  into  the  field  last  year,  the  same  Jehovah 
to  whom  all  things  are  possible  will  be  able  yet  to  find  a  couple  of 
good  men  and  send  them  to  us.  The  bad  fish  as  well  as  the  good 
strain  the  net  and  threaten  to  tear  it.  Come  brethren  from  Europe 
and  help  us  to  draw  it  in.  Meanwhile  we  shall  sing  "  Commit  to  God 
thy  ways." 

2.  Last  summer  several  men  from  the  neighboring  country  called 
New  Jersey  came  to  visit  me.  They  live  on  the  Raritan,  where  there 
had  been  two  large  Lutheran  congregations  from  1732  until  1736. 
These  congregations  engaged  Pastor  Berkenmeyer  to  write  to  Ham- 
burg, and  in  their  name  to  ask  for  a  pastor.  In  answer  to  this  the 
Reverend  Minis terium  of  Hamburg,  sent  a  Magister,  August  Wolf,  of 


APPENDIX   TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION.  181 

Lebegln,  to  Jersey  with  appropriate  instructions.  Tliis  Wolf  began 
liis  operations  by  showing  himself  in  New  York  in  the  presence  of 
Ydtiiesses  yet  living  to  be  a  "  capricieuser "  character,  full  of  pride  and 
self-importance.  He  gave  evidence  that  he  had  made  progress  in 
"  humauiority,"  but  that  he  had  neither  gifts  nor  experience  in  theolog- 
ical subjects,  and  specially  in  preaching.  His  congregation  welcomed 
him  with  sincere  atfection,  and  although  he  read  all  his  sermons  from 
a  manuscript,  still  the  congregation  had  patience  with  him,  because  he 
gave  out  that  he  had  lost  his  memory  at  sea. 

At  the  very  beginning  this  Magister  made  himself  very  familiar  with 
the  young  women;  he  wanted  to  get  married,  and  for  his  bad  conduct 
in  this  respect  he  fell  into  discredit.  So  two  parties  were  arrayed  in 
hostile  strife,  which,  however,  was  settled  by  Pastor  Berkenmeyer  and 
Mv.  Knoll,  of  New  York.  Yet  even  afte/  this,  Wolf  did  not  attend 
well  to  his  work,  and  neither  could  nor  would  preach  at  any  time 
without  reading  off  of  his  manuscript.  He  married  a  farmer's  daugh- 
ter, but  he  led  her  a  scandalous  life,  quarreling  with  her,  even  beating 
her.  At  last  he  cast  her  off,  after  two  children  had  been  born  to  him, 
bringing  a  scandalous  and  infamous  charge  against  her.  Yet  he  was 
not  able  to  produce  before  the  magistrate  any  proof  of  the  charge. 
This  miserable  life  of  his,  and  his  unfitness  for  the  pastoral  office 
awakened  dissatisfaction  in  the  congregations,  so  that  they  refused  to 
pay  him  the  salary  that  had  been  promised,  and  washed  to  have  noth- 
ing more  to  do  with  him.  They  offered  to  pay  his  expenses  if  he 
would  go  back  to  where  he  came  from,  but  this  he  refused  to  do.  He 
claimed  to  stand  up  for  his  rights,  and  that  he  had  a  call  from  Ham- 
burg regularly  written  and  sealed.  Mr.  Berkenmeyer  and  Mr.  Knoll 
both  took  hold  of  the  matter,  and  complained  of  the  obstinacy  of  the 
congregations  to  the  governor.  The  governor  gave  orders  that  the 
congregations  should  pay  him  his  salary  and  retain  him  in  their  service. 
Against  this  the  congregations  entered  complaint,  and  plead  that  he 
failed  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office.  This  led  to  an  exciting  suit 
at  law.  After  a  year  had  passed  Mr.  Wolf  declared,  under  oath,  in 
the  presence  of  the  magistrates  that  he  had  fulfilled  his  office  according 
to  his  contract;  by  "contract"  he  meant  the  call  that  had  been  given 
to  him  in  Hamburg.  After  he  had  so  taken  oath  the  members  of  the 
congregation  were  "exequiret,"  prosecuted,  and  many  of  them  were 
arrested  even  u})on  the  highway. 

In  a  word,  the  result  of  this  matter  was,  that  the  office  of  pastor 
was  miserably  slandered,  the  young  people  were  utterly  neglected,  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  not  celebrated,  the  sick  were  not  visited;  in  fact 
the  desolation  was  so  complete,  that  it  furnished  street  ballads  among 
the  Germans  all  through  America.  The  congregations,  excepting  a 
few  families,  were  completely  broken  up.  These  complaints  and  suits 
in  court  continued  on  for  nine  or  ten  years.  The  civil  authorities 
themselves,  at  last,  grew^  tired  of  it ;  but  they  did  not  know  how  to  put 


182  APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

an  end  to  it ;  for,  the  English  authorities  have  no  j^ower  to  decide  in 
spiritual  questions,  since  these  matters  belong  to  the  Forum  Ecclesi- 
asticum. 

Finally,  the  subject  was  brought  before  the  Supreme  Court,  which 
involved  the  congregations  in  heavy  expenses.  The  lawyers  got  the 
best  of  it.  The  members  of  the  congregation  sold  their  property,  in 
part,  and  moved  off  to  other  regions.  Mr.  Berkenmeyer  and  Mr.  Knoll 
made  several  attempts  to  settle  the  matter  amicably.  At  one  time  Mr. 
■  Wolf  would  agree  to  accept  a  sum  of  money  and  to  leave  the  parts ; 
but  the  congregation  would  not  consent  to  pay  him  anything.  At 
another  time  the  congregation  would  ofier  to  pay  him  a  certain  sum ; 
but  he  would  not  consent  to  take  it.  A  union  and  reconciliation  of 
the  two  Avas  not  possible.  Wolf  was  obstinate ;  he  would  not  take  any 
notice  of  his  Avife,  nor  amend  his  own  habits  and  ways.  The  congre- 
gations, exasperated  by  the  stubborn  law-suit,  were  likewise  obstinate, 
and  called  Wolf  a  hireling.  In  short,  within  the  last  ten  years,  there 
has  been  so  much  scandal,  and  so  much  harm  done  to  souls,  that  even 
eternity  itself  might  seem  too  brief  to  afford  a  sufficient  answer  for  it. 

These  two  congregations  were  importuning  me  far  two  years  to  come 
and  help  them  out  of  their  troubles.  They  shed  many  tears  on  account 
of  their  children  who,  they  said,  despised  religious  instruction,  because 
everything  was  in  such  miserable  condition.  At  last  the  congregation 
got  Wolf  to  agree,  in  the  presence  of  the  magistrates,  that  both  parties 
should  bind  themselves  to  refer  the  matter,  for  final  settlement,  to  an 
arbitration,  according  to  English  law.  The  arbitrators  should  be  four 
pastors.  Mr.  Wolf,  for  his  part,  chose  two,  namely,  Mr.  Berkenmeyer 
and  Mr.  Knoll.  The  congregations  named  two  of  us,  on  their  part. 
My  colleague,  Bruunholtz,  declined  to  accompany  me,  because  we 
could  not  both  be  absent  from  home  at  the  same  time.  So  I  took  Mr. 
Wagner  along  with  me,  having  previously,  by  letter,  informed  Mr. 
Berkenmeyer  of  these  circumstances. 

Mr.  Berkenmeyer  acted  as  though  he  had  known  nothing  about  it. 
He  also  said  that  he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  because  it  was 
a  matter  of  vital  importance,  which  had  already  been  brought  before 
the  Supreme  Court.  He  Avanted  to  be  considered  only  as  a  Super- 
numerary. As  I  Avas  on  the  ground  at  the  appointed  time,  AA'ith  ]\[r. 
Wagner,  Mr.  Knoll  AA'as  there  also;  but  Mr.  Berkenmeyer  did  not 
appear.  Noaa%  Avhat  should  aa^c  do  ?  Mr.  Wolf  AA'as  not  much  disposed 
to  settle  the  business ;  for  he  preferred  to  lead  a  lazA^  life,  and  to  spend 
the  money  which  he  obtained  throuirh  distraint.  What  Avas  the  reason 
for  Mr.  Berkenmeyer's  absence?  On  the  part  of  Mr.  Wolf,  the  affair 
seemed  to  be  only  a  sham-battle ;  and  it  looked  as  if  Ave  Av^ould  haA^e  to 
go  back  to  Pennsyh^ania  like  April-fools,  not  ha^dng  accomplished  any- 
thing, in  Avhich  case  the  authorities  might  haA^e  brought  an  action 
against  us.  All  the  laAvyers  and  interested  parties  AA'ere  anxiously 
Avaiting  for  the  result  of  the  arbitration.     As  I  had  possession  of  the 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  183 

"bond  which  had,  previously,  been  signed  by  both  parties,  I  prevailed 
upon  them  to  make  a  new  bond,  and  to  appoint  us,  the  three  pastors 
then  present,  as  the  arbitrators.  This  was  done;  and  then  Ave  gave  a 
hearing  to  both  parties.  We  were  occupied  for  four  days  and  nights 
in  trying  to  steer  through  the  old  law-suits  of  many  years ;  and,  I  can 
say,  that  in  all  my  life,  I  never  spent  so  hard  a  time  or  had  so  disagree- 
able a  work.  There  was  such  bitterness  of  feeling  between  Preacher 
Wolf  and  the  congregations,  that  reconciliation  was  altogether  impos- 
sible. The  congregations  asked  for  nothing  but  to  be  set  loose  from 
their  connection  with  the  wretched  character ;  and  AYolf  on  the  other 
hand,  knew  how  to  philosophize  and  make  oratorical  flourishes,  like  a 
skillful  lawyer,  and  all  to  his  own  advantage.  We  would  willingly 
have  declined  taking  any  action,  and  referred  the  matter  to  the  Kever- 
end  Ministerium  of  Hamburg ;  but  that  would  have  been  contrary  to 
the  object  of  the  arbitration.  Besides,  the  civil  authorities  wanted  a 
settlement,  before  it  should  go  any  further ;  and  we  must  act  in  accord- 
ance with  the  laws  and  constitution. 

1.  After  much  investigation  we  found,  that  Mr.  Wolf  himself  was 
the  prime  mover,  in  all  the  c^uarrels,  and  the  original  cause  of  the 
whole  scandal. 

2.  We  found  that  he  was  an  adulterer,  who  without  right,  and  with- 
out cause  had  cast  off  his  wife. 

3.  Also,  that  he  refused  to  be  reconciled  to  his  wife. 

4.  Further,  that  he  had  taken  oath,  several  times  before  the  magis- 
trate, declaring  that  he  had  done  his  official  duty,  according  to  the 
contract ;  and  we  found  the  very  reverse. 

5.  Again,  that  he  had  not  show^n  so  much  official  and  paternal  faith- 
fulness to  his  own  son,  as  to  teach  him  the  ten  commandments,  though 
he  had  had  him  under  his  care  for  years. 

Now  could  we,  with  any  kind  of  justice,  have  forced  these  congrega- 
tions to  acknowledge,  as  their  spiritual  guide,  a  lazy  servant,  an  adult- 
erer, a  perjurer,  a  wolf,  a  destroyer  of  the  flock,  a  man  who  did  not 
rule  even  his  own  house,  and  compel  them  to  pay  him  so  much  every 
year  for  his  wickedness?  The  congregations  themselves,  indeed,  had  in 
a  measure  given  offence,  by  hard  speeches ;  yet  the  most  of  the  people 
were  innocent ;  and  Wolf  himself  always  gave  them  the  provocation. 
If  Ave  had  acted  with  strictness  there  seemed  to  be  no  other  Avay  of 
ending  the  matter  than  by  releasing  the  congregations  from  all  connec- 
tion with  Wolf,  for  a  reconciliation  could  not  be  effected. 

Before  reaching  our  conclusion  Ave  asked  Wolf  Avhat  he  would  de- 
mand. He  answered  in  Avriting,  that  he  required  a  sum  of  money  in 
consideration  of  his  resigning,  Avhen  he  would  surrender  all  the  jura 
and  claims  connected  Avith  his  call.  I  and  Mr.  Wagner  terminated 
the  arbitration,  and  decided,  according  to  action  previously  recorded, 
that  the  congregations  should  be  released  and  free.  But  before  Ave 
had  signed  and  sealed  this  decision,  another  plan  Avas  proposed  and  ac- 


184  APPEIS^BIX   TO  SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

cepted,  to-wit :  Mr.  Wolf  declared  in  writing,  that  he  resigned  and  re- 
leased the  congregations  from  all  claims  and  rights  that  he  had  ever 
demanded  from  them  or  could  demand  in  future,  by  reason  of  his  call. 
In  a  word,  he  resigned  from  both  congregations ;  and  in  consideration 
of  this  he  claimed,  after  long  bargaining,  the  sum  of  90  pounds  Jersey 
money.  . 

The  raising  of  this  money  was  then  demanded  of  those  persons  Avho 
had  not,  as  yet,  been  distrained  by  the  authorities,  and  who  had  not 
yet  gone  to  other  sects.  Those  members  who  had  been  forced  by  the 
law  to  pay  up  from  year  to  year  said,  it  is  but  fair  that  those  who  have, 
never  yet,  given  anything  should  now  help  somewhat  to  bear  the  bur- 
den. Now  as  Mr.  Knoll  insisted  upon  it,  and  Mr.  AVolf  asked  for 
nothing  but  a  sum  of  money,  and  the  members  of  the  congregations, 
in  part,  as  already  stated,  agreed  to  this,  therefore  I  and  Mr.  Wagner 
yielded  the  point  and  declared  the  conclusion  of  the  whole  arbitration 
in  this  way :  Mr.  Wolf  sells  his  call  and  all  his  rights  for  90  pounds, 
and  the  congregations  were  glad  that  they  could  be  released  for  90 
pounds,  from  the  grasp  he  had  upon  their  throats ;  although  it  drew 
many  drops  of  sweat  and  blood  to  raise  the  90  pounds,  for  which  Wolf 
had  given  them  nothing  but  trouble. 

As  the  90  pounds  had  been  accorded  to  Wolf,  it  was  insisted  upon 
that  he  should  defray  the  costs  of  the  lawsuit  that  were  yet  unpaid, 
Avhich  amounted  to  between  24  and  30  pounds;  and  further,  that  he 
should  deliver  up  the  call  and  the  instructions  given  him  by  the  Rev. 
Ministerium  of  Hamburg,  which  he  had  so  terribly  misused  and  which 
had  been  like  a  sword  in  the  hand  of  a  maniac.  He  did  deliver  up  his 
call  and  his  instructions.  The  deacons  who  had  subscribed  their 
names  thereto,  tore  off  the  seal  and  their  names,  and  gave  both  seal  and 
names  to  me ;  and  if  the  Rev.  Ministerium  of  Hamburg  so  desire,  the 
seal  that  has  been  so  long  abused  may  be  transmitted  to  them  or  be 
destroyed,  so  that  it  may  never  come  into  the  hands  of  a  man  who 
might  cause  such  a  Reverend  Ministerium  to  be  blamed,  and  cast  such 
a  blemish  upon  our  Evangelical  Lutheran  religion  in  this  western 
land.  Mr.  Wolf  was  so  highly  pleased  with  his  money  that  he  forgot 
his  troubles. 

As  tne  business  had  now  come  to  an  end,  Mr.  Berkenmeyer  began 
to  storm  out  against  us  in  a  long  letter,  in  which  he  cries  and  laughs 
and  groans,  and  calumniates,  and  slanders  and  reviles,  and  threatens 
to  enter  a  complaint  against  me  before  the  reverend  Consistory  of 
Hamburg.  For  this  reason  I  have  written  to  the  reverend  Fathers  so 
as  to  be  ready  for  whatever  may  come  out  of  it.  I  can  produce  writ- 
ings and  living  witnesses  in  proof  of  all  that  I  have  said  above,  and 
even  of  much  more,  if  it  should  be  demanded.  The  arbitration  was 
held  last  August.  In  November,  the  two  congregations  on  the  Rari- 
tan  requested  me  to  visit  them,  and  to  help  them  into  some  kind  of  or- 
der.    I  could  not  refuse  although  it  was  more  than  seventy  miles  dis- 


APPENDIX   TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION.  185 

tant  from  Providence.  Accordingly  I  went,  expecting  to  spend  about 
two  weeks  with  them.  I  gathered  their  youth  together ;  I  instructed 
twenty-four  young  and  older  persons,  and  afterwards  confirmed  them, 
on  which  occasion  they  were  deeply  impressed  in  heart. 

The  young  people  had  indeed  been  very  successful  in  learning  the 
chief  parts  of  the  catechism;  and  although  they  had  done  this  in 
the  Dutch  language,  nevertheless,  they  understood  the  German,  and 
could  give  very  correct  answers.  I  administered  the  Lord's  Supper 
in  both  congregations,  which  had  not  been  done  for  many  years. 
Those  who  went  to  the  communion  were,  for  the  most  part,  people 
who  had  had  nothing  to  do  with  Wolf,  having  come  into  the  country 
after  the  troubles  had  been  begun.  The  older  members  of  the  congre- 
gation also  had  first  given  Wolf  what  was  due  him  and  had  made  friends 
with  him.  O,  there  were  many  tears  of  joy  shed  among  the  older  peo- 
ple as  they  witnessed  the  confirmation  of  their  children.  Their  spirit 
revived  as  did  the  spirit  of  Jacob,  and  they  said,  it  is  enough,  if  our 
children  who  have  been  wandering  like  lost  sheep  are  only  found  and 
brought  back  again.  Both  congregations  have  instructed  me  to  peti- 
tion our  reverend  Fathers  to  send  them  a  pastor,  under  the  following 
conditions : 

1.  That  he  accept  the  call  by  way  of  trial,  for  three  or  four  years. 
They  have  been  so  terribly  disappointed  once  already,  that  a  chill  runs 
over  them  whenever  they  hear  anything  said  about  "subscribing;" 
and,  whilst  trusting  in  God,  we  ought  to  be  a  little  easy  with  them  in 
this  matter. 

2.  The  two  congregations  are  willing  and  able  to  give  a  faithful  pas- 
tor a  generous  support. 

3.  They  are  also  willing  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  pastors'  journey; 
provided,  they  obtain  a  good  one. 

Now,  if  the  door  be  once  opened  for  us  here,  we  can  extend  our 
operations  in  the  surrounding  regions.  But  alas !  alas !  The  congre- 
gations are  open,  and  the  Moravians  are  already  on  the  borders,  and 
working  for  opportunity  to  enter  in.  According  to  my  experience,  the 
people  in  Jersey  have  much  more  reverence  and  respect  for  religion 
and  Divine  worship  than  they  have  in  rough  Pennsylvania.  "Die  con- 
gregations have  entreated  us  to  allow  our  assistant,  Kurtz,  to  serve 
them  until  our  reverend  Fathers  can  send  them  a  regular  pastor. 
Now,  what  should  be  done?  If  we  act  too  promptly  we  may  deserve 
to  be  reprimanded.  If  we  delay  to  act,  conscience  might  reprove  us. 
If  I  were  one  with  the  Moravians,  I  would  soon  have  laborers  and  as- 
sistants enough.  O,  my  God !  Thou  hast  all  power  to  help,  and  wilt 
help  in  time  of  need.  "  Thy  every  act  is  blessing,  thy  course  is  per- 
fect light."  I  will  sing  with  my  brethren,  "Commit  to  God  thy  ways." 
O  how  gladly  would  I  see  our  Evangelical  Church  set  forward  on  a 
better  course  in  this  land.  Here  the  old  saying  comes  in,  "Either — 
or."     If  we  sleep,  others  will  enter  in.     The  expenses  of  the  journey 


186  APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

•would,  perhaps,  be  the  heaviest  item ;  but  I  hope  that,  with  the  help 
of  God,  they  can  be  met.  So,  for  the  present,  our  petition  and  earnest 
desire  is  firm  in  this,  that  two  messengers  of  peace  may  be  sent  to  us, 
who  will  be  satisfied,  salario  Apostolico,  and  help  us  to  build  up  the 
walls. 

4.  The  affair  of  preacher  Andrese  still  awaits  the  decision  of  the 
court.  He  is  a  vile  slanderer  and  calumniator,  ever  abusing  us  and 
our  Fathers  and  the  Court  Chaplain  Petersen ;  one  while  calling  us 
all  Moravians,  and  another  while,  cursed  pietists.  He  slashes  about 
violently  in  his  responsis,  specially  Avhere  the  title  of  our  gracious  King 
appears  in  capital  letters.  The  authenticated  copy  was  quite  useful 
and  satisfactory  to  me ;  but  it  would  be  still  better  if  we  could  obtain 
also  the  Acta  from  Zweibruecken. 

5.  The  last  new  pastor  in  charge  of  the  large  German  congregation  in 
Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  by  the  name  of  Neuberg,  from  Sweden,  openly 
joined  the  Moravians,  last  November.  The  Moravians  appointed  a  great 
conference  in  Lancaster ;  and  this  brought  out  Mr.  Neuberg  and  those  of 
his  congregation  who  were  like-minded  with  him,  to  declare  themselves. 
They  attended  the  meetings  of  the  conference.  When  Mr.  Neuberg 
after  this,  undertook  to  preach  in  the  Lutheran  church,  there  were 
about  eighty  persons  who  opposed  his  preaching  in  the  church,  any 
more.  Another  party  stood  up  for  him  and  led  him  in  and,  between 
them,  they  came  very  near  to  blows  and  violence.  Some  of  them  went 
to  the  church  with  guns  and  swords  in  their  hands;  and  even  the 
women  mixed  themselves  up  in  the  mess  and  were  among  the  loudest 
and  the  boldest.  The  affair  will,  no  doubt,  be  regularly  investigated  by 
due  course  of  law,  in  the  court.  Mr.  Neuberg  professes  to  be  a  genu- 
ine Lutheran ;  and  calls  us  Pietists,  against  whom  so  many  royal  Man- 
data  can  be  produced.  Mr.  Neuberg  also  maintains  the  following  pro- 
position, to  wit,  that  a  man  can  be  a  genuine  Lutheran  and  also  a  j\Io- 
ravian  at  the  same  time.  Now  we  are  publicly  recognized  as  Lutheran 
preachers,  in  this  country.  We  must  either  maintain  the  opposite,  or 
acquiesce  in  the  above  proposition.  Neuberg's  congregation,  for  the 
most  part,  appeals  to  us,  and  says  that  we  are  Lutherans,  and  cannot 
harmonize  with  the  jNIoravians  either  in  doctrine  or  in  government. 
But  as  Neuberg  does  harmonize  with  the  Moravians,  therefore  he  can- 
not be  a  genuine  Lutheran  preacher ;  consequently  cannot  be  our  pas- 
tor. Neuberg  runs  in  the  opposite  direction,  and  argues  thus:  a  man 
can  be  a  genuine  Lutheran  teacher  according  to  the  Augsburg  Con- 
fession and  the  Symbolical  Books  even  if  he  does  maintain  a  connection 
with  the  Moravian  brethren.  But  Pietists  and  Moravians  cannot  har- 
monize. Now,  as  this  affair  may  lead  to  serious  results,  I  respectfully 
beg  our  reverend  Fathers,  to  obtain  from  unbiassed  Universities,  spe- 
cially from  Tuebingen,  and  if  possible,  also  from  Sweden,  an  answer  to 
the  following  question :  "  Do  the  Moravians  of  the  present  day  come  so 
near  to  the  Lutherans  in  doctrine  and  in  church  order,  that  both  par- 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  187 

ties  can  unite  in  common,  teaching  and  helping  each  other  in  the  offi- 
cial work  of  the  church  and  the  school  ?  "  As  for  ourselves,  we  have 
reason  to  believe  that  it  cannot  be.  But  if  we  have  responses  from  the 
Universities  our  views  might  probably  be  more  distinct.  We  shall 
exercise  all  possible  caution,  so  as  not  to  become  entangled  in  the  mat- 
ter. We  shall  remain  neutral.  However,  if  the  civil  authorities  should 
demand  an  explanation  of  us,  we  must  be  able  to  give  our  reasons,  for 
here  we  occupy  a  public  position. 

6.  I  have  spoken  about  the  aftairs  of  the  churches  in  letters  sent  off 
already.  I  cannot,  at  present,  report  any  special  official  acts;  this  I 
reserve  for  my  next  communication.  As  to  the  rest,  I  commend  our 
whole  concern  and  work  in  this  land,  and  specially  my  beloved  breth- 
ren, myself  and  my  wife  to  your  paternal  and'  continued  affection,  to 
your  prayers  and  intercessions. 

I  remain,  for  life,  your  Reverence's 

Most  obedient  son  and  servant, 

Muhlenberg. 
Providence,  Dec.  12th,  1745. 

P.  S. — The  letters  accompanying  this,  relate  to  our  own  affiiirs  and 
connections.  The  Fathers  will  excuse  us,  if  they  prove  to  be  burden- 
some. If  they  reach  Europe  safely,  opportunities  will  offer  from  time 
to  time,  for  transmitting  them  to  their  proper  places. 

P.  S. — Perhaps  Mr.  Fabricius  will  be  so  kind  as  to  enclose  the  letter 
for  the  Consistory  of  Darmstadt  in  an  envelope,  and  direct  it  properly. 


III. 

Report  of  the  Arbitrators  on  the  Affairs  of  Wolf. 

Reverend,  Learned  and  Honored  Friends  and  Brethren  in  Christ. 

May  it  please  your  reverences  and  honors  to  accept  the  Repqrt  which 
we  the  undersigned  venture  to  lay  before  you  respecting  a  controversy 
that  has  long  been  notorious  and  lamentable,  and  now,  at  last,  is  ter- 
minated between  the  Rev.  Magister  Wolf  and  the  congregations  on 
the.  Raritan  in.  Jersey.  It  would  be  too  great  an  abuse  of  your  pa- 
tience and  your  time,  which  is  demanded  by  much  more  important 
interests,  if  we  were  to  repeat  all  that  belongs  to  the  case,  part  of 
which  has  been  noised  abroad  for  the  last  ten  years,  and  part  not  yet 
reported.  We  describe  this  controversy  as  a  lamentable  "  action,"  for 
our  experience  has  sufficiently  convinced  us  that  it  has  brought  much 
odium  upon  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Faith,  which  is  as  yet  so  little 
known  in  this  free  country,  has  requited  the  praiseworthy  zeal  of  your 
reverend  ministerium  with  ingratitude,  has  broken  up  the  congrega- 
tions and  reduced  Mr.  Wolf  himself  to  actual  poverty. 

In  the  year  1743,  three  men  came  from  Raritan  to  Pennsylvania, 


188  APPENDIX    TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

and  requested  the  Lutheran  preacher  in  Philadelphia,  Henry  ]M.  Muh- 
lenberg, to  visit  them  and  to  make  an  effort  to  bring  the  unhappy 
quarrel  to  an  end.  He  declined,  however,  so  to  do,  saying  that  he  was 
so  overwhelmed  with  work  in  his  own  field  that  it  was  impossible  to 
grant  their  request. 

In  the  year  1744,  they  came  a  second  time  begging  him  with  tears 
and  for  God's  sake  to  inquire  into  the  matter,  because  everything  was 
in  a  state  of  the  deepest  confusion  and  their  poor,  young  people  Avere 
in  danger  of  being  utterly  ruined.  His  answer  was  that  he  could  do 
nothing  at  all  in  the  affair,  because  it  had  been  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  civil  authorities. 

In  the  year  1745,  these  men  came  again  and  stated  that  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  Mr.  Mueller,  of  Raritan,  had  advised  both  parties  to  com- 
mit the  matter  to  the;  judgment  of  an  arbitration,  adding  that  the  civil 
authorities  were  tired  of  the  whole  subject  and  not  disposed  to  handle 
it  any  longer,  because  they  saw  that,  hoAvever  it  might  be  decided,  ruin 
was  sure  to  come  at  last. 

Your  reverences  will  allow  us  to  make  a  statement  at  this  point.  It 
is  well  known  that,  by  virtue  of  an  Act  of  Parliament,  all  Protestants 
from  foreign  countries  have  the  privilege  of  taking  up  their  abode  in 
the  English-American  colonies,  and  of  becoming  naturalized  after  seven 
years  residence,  and  thereby  partaking  of  all  the  privileges  that  belong 
to  a  native  Englishman.  As  to  religion  there  is  only  one  church  re- 
cognized as  established  and  which  depends  upon  the  Archbishop  of 
London*  as  its  Chief  Inspector.  All  other  associations  of  Protestants 
are  tolerated,  according  to  another  Act  of  Parliament,  and  enjoy  the 
right  of  conducting  their  religious  services  according  to  their  own  con- 
fession and  order ;  provided  only  they  continue  to  live  as  law-abiding 
and  peaceful  subjects  of  the  king.  Now,  according  to  this,  whenever 
a  dispute  occurs  in  the  high  church,  the  Archbishop  is  the  Chief  Judge. 
But  when  a  quarrel  breaks  out  in  any  of  the  other  Protestant  congre- 
gations the  Archbishop  has  no  power  to  act,  and  the  civil  authorities 
have  no  right  to  decide  upon  questions  concerning  religion  and  the 
church,  because  the  laws  do  not  cover  these  matters.  For  this  reason 
the  Protestant  congregations  in  this  country,  if  they  really  wish  to 
maintain  their  order,  have  to  take  the  greatest  pains  to  secure  among 
their  own  numbers  the  presence  of  wise  men  who  will  know  well  how 
to  judge  in  small  matters,  I  Cor.  6 ;  and  how  in  weightier  affairs  to 
take  counsel  with  their  several  consistories  and  their  inspectors  regu- 
larly chosen.  If  we  make  an  appeal  to  the  civil  authorities  we  thereby 
show  disrespect  to  the  duly  constituted  consistories  and  superintendents 
of  the  Church,  expose  our  own  infirmities  and  give  ourselves  over  into 
the  hands  of  the  lawyers,  and  then  tedious  and  expensive  law  suits 
follow.  The  lawyers  know  well  how  to  twist  spiritual  things  into  a 
worldly  shape. 

*  This  should  be  Bishop;  there  being  no  Archbishop  of  London. 


APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION.  189 

For  example,  when  a  dispute  about  the  salary  breaks  out  between  a 
preacher  and  his  congregation,  then  the  lawyers  take  up  the  call  given 
to  the  preacher,  the  instructions  and  other  documents  that  have  been 
regularly  signed  and  sealed,  and  make  it  out  to  be  a  business  contract 
or  bargain,  such  as  between  a  master  and  a  servant.  The  master  re- 
fuses to  pay  the  stipulated  wages  and  finds  fault  with  the  work  of  his 
servant ;  but  the  servant  maintains,  with  the  aid  of  witnesses,  or  under 
oath,  that  he  has  rendered  the  service  required  by  the  contract,  conse- 
quently the  master  is  obliged  to  pay.  If  he  refuses  to  pay,  a  writ  of 
execution  is  issued,  a  matter  of  such  prompt  action  that  men  are  often 
arrested  even  upon  the  highway  and  soon  forced  to  come  to  terms. 
We  cannot  deny  that  Magister  Wolf  committed  a  great  mistake  when 
he  brought  this  business  to  the  notice  of  the  civil  authorities  in  the 
way  in  which  he  did  it,  maintaining  for  years  that  he  had  lived  up  to 
his  contract,  giving  occasion  to  so  many  writs  of  execution,  forcing  his 
spiritual  children  to  pay  what  they  had  earned  by  hard  work  into  the 
pockets  of  the  laAvyers,  and  showing  so  little  regard  for  his  call  and 
instructions,  especially  since  there  are  so  many  places  in  the  world 
where  men  may  find  bread  if  they  will  first  seek  the  Kingdom  of  God 
and  His  righteousness. 

According  to  the  English  laws,  when  a  disputed  matter  has  long 
been  before  the  court  and  the  lawyers  of  both  parties  have  grown  tired 
of  it,  seeing  perhaps  that  their  clients  have  been  already  plucked  bare, 
the  judges  usually  refer  the  business  to  an  arbitration. 

1.  For  such  an  arbitration  both  parties  must  agree  in  selecting  three, 
four  or  more  impartial  men  who  may  be  able  to  investigate  the  subject 
fairly,  and  who  know  so  much  about  English  law  as  to  avoid  a  decision 
that  might  be  in  conflict  with  it. 

2.  The  parties  bind  themselves  by  mutual  obligations,  pledging  a 
sum  of  money,  to  abide  by  the  decision  which  the  arbitrators  having 
first  made  their  investigation,  draw  up  in  a  written  document,  regularly 
signed  and  sealed. 

3.  Each  party  has  the  right  to  choose  its  own  men,  who  may  be 
either  clergymen  or  laymen,  provided  only  they  are  subjects  of  the 
kingi 

4.  In  the  agreement  a  certain  time  is  specified  at  which  the  whole 
business  must  be  finished. 

5.  The  arbitrators  are  bound  to  affix  their  names  and  seals  to  the 
final  decision  before  the  expiration  of  the  day  that  has  been  agreed 
upon. 

6.  If  the  specified  term  should  prove  to  be  short,  both  parties  may 
agree  upon  a  new  arrangement  for  extending  the  time. 

7.  In  case  one  party  should  prove  refractory  and  refuse  to  comply 
with  the  terms  of  the  obligation,  that  party  is  mulcted  in  the  amount 
of  money  specified  in  the  agreement. 

8.  If  the  arbitrators,  having  investigated  the  matter,  fail  to  reach  a 


190  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

iinanimous  decision,  then  the  majority  of  their  votes  determines  the 
business.  For  example,  if  there  are  three  arbitrators,  two  of  them 
may  declare  the  final  sentence,  although  the  third  may  dissent,  and  so 
too  when  the  number  is  larger. 

9.  The  final  decision  having  been  regularly  signed,  sealed  and  pub- 
lished on  the  appointed  day,  in  case  either  party  should  refuse  to  ac- 
cept it,  the  fine  specified  in  the  agreement  is  exacted  of  that  party,  and 
the  whole  afiair  may  have  to  be  handled  again  from  the  beginning. 

10.  In  case  the  protesting  party  should  discover  that  the  arbitrators 
have  drawn  up  their  final  decision  in  conflict  with  the  English  laws, 
they  may  give  the  arbitrators  great  trouble  and  have  them  fined,  etc. 

Now,  the  men  from  Raritan,  spoken  of  above,  would  not  stop  annoy- 
ing the  preacher  Muhlenberg,  and  begging  him,  with  tears,  to  act  as 
an  arbitrator,  in  their  interest.  To  the  same  effect  they  solicited 
Magister  Tobias  Wagner,  an  Evangelical  Lutheran  preacher,  who  for- 
merly had  labored  as  a  faithful  pastor  at  Horkheim  in  Wiirttemberg, 
afterwards  in  a  German  colony  in  New  England  and  finally,  in  German 
congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  to  serve  them  as  a  second  arbitrator. 
Magister  Wolf  selected  the  reverend  Pastor  Berkenmeyer  and  Pastor 
Knoll,  of  New  York,  as  arbitrators  on  his  side. 

Of  course,  no  one  would  willingly  consent  to  take  part  in  a  quarrel 
of  such  delicacy,  complicated  in  the  highest  degree,  odious  and  of  long 
standing,  a  quarrel  in  which  the  civil  authorities  and  crafty  laAvyers 
had  already  worked  themselves  weary.  Neither  would  it  have  been 
necessary  to  give  the  affair  any  attention,  if  the  interests  of  our  whole 
church,  the  integrity  of  a  Reverend  Ministerium,  the  welfare  of  Mr. 
Wolf  and  of  the  scattered  congregations  had  not  appealed  to  our 
hearts.  As  it  was  the  earnest  wish  of  both  parties  that  the  matter 
should  be  settled  by  an  arbitration,  and  as  the  civil  authorities  also 
urged  it,  it  might  have  been  decided  by  other  persons,  without  our  tak- 
ing part  in  it,  and  perhaps,  with  greater  precision. 

In  advance  of  a  writ  of  execution  Mr.  Wolf  had  always  to  declare, 
under  oath,  or  prove  by  witnesses,  that  he  had  rendered  the  service 
prescribed  by  the  contract;  but  the  congregations  also  were  able  to 
show,  that  he  had  not  complied  with  the  required  terms,  in  all  respects ; 
for  his  unhappy  marriage  and  other  hindrances  rendered  such  compli- 
ance impracticable.  Before  Preacher  ^luhlenberg  and  Magister  AVag- 
ner  had  given  their  consent  to  act  as  arbitrators,  the  former  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  revernd  Pastor  Berkenmeyer  referring,  with  the  best  in- 
tentions, to  the  subject  in  dispute.  In  this  letter  he  distinctly  presented 
the  question  whether  we  would  not  be  rendering  a  service  to  Mr.  Wolf 
by  encouraging  him  to  go  back  to  Europe?  It  was  not  intended,  in 
the  least,  to  do  harm  to  any  person ;  but  the  humble  opinion  was  that 
in  Europe,  there  occur,  both  in  churches  and  in  schools,  opportunities 
of  many  divers  kinds  for  putting  a  weak  instrument  in  strong  hands  to 
do  such  work  as  it  may  be  fitted  for;  that  such  opportunities  are  more 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  191 

frequent  there  than  in  this  free  country  where  the  Church  is  yet  to  be 
planted;  and  esi)ecially,  in  this  phice,  where  it  is  impossible  to  rectify 
the  unhappy  marriage  of  Mr.  Wolf,  or  to  cover  over  the  otieuces  that 
have  resulted  from  it.  The  answer  to  this  and  to  other  questions  niay 
be  found  in  the  accompanying  extract  from  the  communication  of  Mr. 
Berkenmeyer,  under  Letter  A. 

In  July  1745  the  three  men  from  Raritan  came  to  Pennsylvania 
again  and  reported  that  Mr.  Wolf  had  made  a  solenm  contract  with 
them  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  secure  an  arbitration  and  a  "  final 
sentence,"  both  parties  obligating  themselves  to  abide  by  the  decision 
in  all  points,  under  a  penalty  of  55  pounds.  If  Mr.  Magister  Wolf 
had  had  the  slightest  respect  for  his  Superiors,  the  Rev.  Ministerium  in 
Hamburg,  he  should  have  first  asked  of  them,  whether  he  could,  with- 
out prejudice,  enter  into  any  such  contract?  But  the  affair  had  already 
gone  too  far  under  the  reach  of  the  civil  law ;.  and  the  authorities 
wanted  to  be  rid  of  it,  because  they  saw  that  it  was  working  ruin  to 
the  subjects  of  the  king.  A  correct  copy  of  the  contract  is  furnished, 
marked  B.  Among  the  items  of  this  contract  it  may  be  observed,  that 
Mr.  Magister  Wolf  made  choice  of  the  reverend  Pastors  Berkenmeyer 
and  Knoll ;  and  the  congregations,  for  their  part,  selected  Pastor  Muh- 
lenberg and  Mr.  Magister  Wagner,  to  serve  as  arbitrators  in  order  that 
a  "final  sentence"  upon  the  whole  quarrel  might  be  delivered  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  August,  1745.  In  fixing  the  date,  Mr.  Magister 
Wolf  might  have  shown  more  wisdom  than  he  did;  he  might  have 
postponed  it  for  about  a  year,  and  this  would  have  afforded  us  an  op- 
portunity to  transmit  a  respectful  statement  of  the  whole  afikir  to  the 
Rev.  Ministerium  in  Hamburg.  We  Pennsylvanians  had  no  other 
thought  than  that  Mr.  Magister  Wolf  would,  without  fail,  secure  the 
attendance  of  the  reverend  pastors  from  New  York.  80,  we  set  off 
upon  the  journey.  Mr.  Magister  Wagner  had  the  distance  of  126  Eng- 
lish miles  and  Muhlenberg  70  miles  to  travel.  High  waters  and  muddy 
roads  delayed  us  so  much  that  we  did  not  reach  Raritan  before  July 
31st.  Here  we  met  his  reverence,  Pastor  Knoll,  but  not  Pastor  Berken- 
meyer. This  circumstance  disturbed  all  three  of  us,  very  nmch,  for 
only  about  18  hours  remained  before  the  time  fixed  upon  for  the  settle- 
ment to  expire.  His  reverence.  Pastor  Knoll,  promptly  addressed  a 
friendly  invitation  to  Mr.  Magister  Wolf,  dated  July  31st,  a  copy  of 
which  we  furnish  herewith  marked  C. 

On  August  1st,  Mr.  Wolf  and  several  members  came  to  the  appointed 
place.  Now,  it  was  impossible  to  settle  up  this  prolix  and  complicated 
aflfair  within  the  space  of  12  hours;  so,  another  arrangement  had  to  be 
made;  and  we  could  not  expect  the  attendance  of  his  reverence,  Pas- 
tor Berkenmeyer.     Three  plans  had  to  be  considered. 

1.  Mr.  AVolf  would  have  to  appoint  some  one  in  place  of  Mr.  Pas- 
tor Berkenmeyer,  yet  with  the  consent  of  all  parties;  but  this  could 
not  be  easily  done. 


192  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

2.  With  the  consent  of  the  congregation,  he  might  make  another 
contract,  and,  invest  the  three  arbitrators,  then  present,  with  full  power. 
If  something  like  this  were  not  done  before  evening,  then  nothing  re- 
mained but 

3.  He  would  have  to  pay  the  penalty  of  55  pounds. 

For  us  three  it  would  have  been  the  easiest  thing  to  use  the  existing 
circumstances  as  an  excuse,  and  to  go  home  at  once.  Mr.  Wolf  would 
have  had  to  pay  the  55  pounds,  or  been  reduced  to  submission  and 
brought  to  utter  ruin, — however,  if  we  respect  the  Rule  of  Christ, 
"  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do,"  etc.,  we  can  follow  a  gen- 
tler way.  If  the  principle  of  worldly  legislation,  fines  and  penalties, 
be  insisted  upon,  then  honor,  reverence,  love  are  slighted,  and  nature, 
flaming  with  unholy  passion,  has  the  mastery.  So,  Mr.  Wolf  could 
not  otherwise  help  himself;  with  the  consent  of  his  opponents  he  had 
to  enter  into  another  contract,  appointing  three  arbitrators,  and  fixing 
the  period  on  or  before  August  8th. 

Here,  your  Reverences  might  remind  me  of  what  I  have  already 
said ;  and  inquire  why  the  period  was  not  extended  for  one  year,  as  has 
been  said  above?  We  answer  with  all  reverence,  that  this  was  imprac- 
ticable for  either  party.  Mr.  Wolf  wanted  money,  and  the  authorities 
were  not  willing  to  wring  out  any  more  by  writs  of  execution.  Besides 
this,  as  he  said,  he  owed  30  pounds  to  his  lawyers ;  and  the  members  of 
the  congregation  were  not  willing  to  depart  from  the  provisions  of  the 
contract.  Under  the  terms  of  the  first  contract  it  could  have  been 
more  easily  done,  before  Mr.  Wolf  had  signed  and  sealed  it.  We  be- 
gan on  August  1st,  and  continued  the  hearing  of  both  parties  in  the 
presence  of  each  other,  until  August  5th.  I  cannot  describe  how 
wearisome,  tedious  and  confused  we  found  the  affair  to  be,  the  one 
party  always  denying  what  the  other  party  confirmed.  The  time  was 
wasted  in  accusations  and  recriminations.  His  reverence,  Pastor  Knoll, 
represented  and  defended  Magister  Wolf  honorably,  in  the  best  spirit, 
doing  everything  that  a  father  could  do  for  his  own  child.  The  other 
two  arbitrators  defended  the  interests  of  the  congregation ;  and  Avhen 
all  three  of  us  were  alone  we  were  unanimous  in  the  earnest  wish  that 
both  parties  might  be  favored  with  the  very  best  advice,  that  the  inter- 
ests of  the  whole  church  might  be  promoted,  and  that  the  praiseworthy 
zeal  and  labors  of  the  Very  Reverend  Ministerium  of  Hamburg  might 
be  held  in  thankful  remembrance. 

Although  his  reverence,  Pastor  Berkenmeyer,  was  not  willing  to  at- 
tend, yet  we  proceded  diligently  to  work,  in  accordance  with  the  in- 
structions you  had  given  us,  under  Letter  A.  It  was,  however,  impos- 
sible for  us  to  make  everything  practicable,  as  Pastor  Knoll  himself 
testifies,  in  a  letter  to  Pastor  Berkenmeyer,  dated  Sept.  16th,  1745. 
See  copy  under  Letter  D.  We  spent  the  half  of  one  day  in  trying  to 
reconcile  ^Ir.  AVolf  and  his  wife,  and  to  bring  them  together  again; 
in  the  belief  that  thereby  a  great  stumbling  stone  would  be  taken  out 


Appendix  to  second  continuation.  193 

6f  the  way.  But  it  was  all  in  vain.  Mr.  Wolf  could  not  give  up  his 
suspicion,  which  appeared  indeed  to  be  rooted  in  him,  that  his  wife 
had  been  guilty  of  gross  adultery ;  and  his  wife  said  that  she  bore  yet, 
upon  her  body,  the  blue  marks  of  the  blows  he  had  given  her.  She 
added,  that  she  would  rather  go  about  begging,  with  her  two  youngest 
children  which  Mr.  Wolf  had  allowed  her  to  keep ;  that  ever  since  he 
had  left  her  she  had  supported  herself  and  her  children,  living  in  great 
poverty ;  and  that  she  had  got  nothing  from  her  husband,  and  nothing 
at  all  of  the  money  which  the  writs  of  execution  had  wrung  out  from 
the  congregation,  as  Pastor  Berkeumeyer  supposed  she  had. 

We  then  undertook  to  ascertain  whether  it  would  be  possible  to 
effect  a  reconciliation  between  the  pastor  and  the  congrega'tion.  We 
discovered,  however,  that  the  long  continued  and  odious  law-suits  had 
wounded  the  feelings  of  both  parties  too  deeply.  Some  of  the  old  mem- 
bers who  had  put  their  names  on  a  list  for  paying  the  salary  of  Mr. 
Wolf  were  dead ;  some  of  them  had  moved  off  to  other  places ;  others 
of  them  had  joined  the  Anabaptists;  for  every  person  was  very  anx- 
ious to  get  out  of  the  quarrel.  The  young  people  had  grown  up  un- 
trained and  wild,  and  the  Germans  who  had  come  to  the  region  in  the 
meantime,  would  not  add  their  names  to  the  list  of  the  congregation. 
Very  few  of  the  old  subscribers  yet  remained ;  and  those  of  them  who, 
as  elders  of  the  church,  had  signed  the  call  and  promised  to  pay  the 
salary,  had  to  bleed  miserably;  for  Mr.  Wolf  insisted  upon  the  pay- 
ment of  his  salary,  though  he  was  unable  to  conciliate  them,  and  to 
discharge  his  official  duties,  having  on  so  many  accounts  become  in- 
competent. In  addition,  these  men  were  the  more  deeply  irritated  for 
the  reason  that  the  payment  of  the  salary  depending  upon  them,  they 
were  often  hunted  up  by  the  constable  and  the  sheriff,  and  even  seized 
and  arrested  upon  the  highway. 

^  Whoever  understands  the  condition  of  affairs  in  America  will  feel 
his  heart  sink  within  him  as  he  takes  an  impartial  view  of  such  pro- 
ceedings ;  which,  he  will  be  constrained  to  add,  bring  irremediable  in- 
jury and  scandal  upon  our  Lutheran  religion.  However,  we  ought 
to  make  a  distinction  and  judge  righteous^ly.  Although  the  people 
may  be  described  in  general,  as  uncivilized  and  barborous,  as  indeed 
they  are  in  a  measure,  yet  w^e  should  remember  that  such  communi- 
ties include  people  of  all  classes.  The  smallest  number  have  had  the 
advantages  of  an  education.  Generally,  they  have  been  brought  up 
in  the  hamlets  of  Germany  and  among  the  ruder  classes.  So,  if  they 
lack  culture,  and  now  and  then  indulge  in  uncouth  phrases,  we  have 
to  putup  with  it;  for  they  still  seem  anxious  to  hold  on  to  the  religion 
of  their  fatliers,  and  are  ready  to  contribute  a  portion  of  their  ow^n 
limited  income  towards  the  support  of  a  pastor  who  may  know  how 
to  accommodate  himself  to  very  straitened  circumstances.  Under 
these  conditions,  we  preachers  ought  to  be  the  more  careful  to  watch 
over  our  infant  congregations  wath  a  father's  love,  and  not  to  conduct 
13 


194  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

ourselves  as  their  taskmasters.  If  some  bold,  audacious  spirits  occa- 
sionally talk  loudly  about  shooting  you,  it  does  not  follow  from  this 
that  they  will  do  it;  and  it  is  not  always  fair  to  reason  a  particulare 
ad  universale. 

After  all  our  laborious  efforts  to  reconcile  the  two  parties,  we  did 
not  know  of  one  solitary  person  Avho  was  willing  to  support  Mr.  Wolf 
anv  longer;  and  Mr.  Wolf  himself  was  as  immovable  as  rock.     In  a 
pajper  written  by  himself,  and  which  he  delivered  to  us  Aug.  2d,  Mr. 
Wolf  stated  that  he  would  surrender  his  call  and  release  his  congrega- 
tions from  their  obligations  to  him,  upon  condition  of  their  paying  him 
in  cash ;  his  reasons  for  this  offer  being,  the  great  infirmity  of  his  mem- 
ory, an  overwhelming  depression  of  spirit  and  the  irreconcilableness  of 
his  congregation.     For  all  this  see  copy.  Letter  E.     If  we  had  strictly 
obeyed  the  rules  for  an  arbitration,  we  would  not  have  taken  any  no- 
tice of  any  proposal  either  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Wolf  or  of  the  congre- 
gation.    During  the  following  days  we  endeavored  to  make  a  more 
thorough  investigation  of  the  quarrel  and  of  its  causes.     Mr.  Wolf 
demanded  that  we  should  start  out  with  the  last  agreement  that  was 
made  between  the  parties,  renewed  in  1735  and  written  both  in  German 
and  in  Low  Dutch.     This  agreement,  he  asserted,  had  been  violated 
first  of  all  by  the   congregation,  and  that  the   congregation  thereby 
became   responsible    at   law.      But  we  decided:    1.  That  Mr.  Wolf 
himself  had  caused  the  first  violation  of  the  agreement  by  declining  to 
administer  the  Lord's  Supper  to  a  sick  person  when  he  had  been  re- 
quested so  to  do ;  2.  That  he  had  not  made  diligent  efforts  to  preach 
ex-memoria  as  he  had  promised  ;  3.  That  he  had  not  strictly  adhered 
to  the  New^  York   Kirchenagenda,  as  he  had  been  bound  to  do;  4. 
That  he  had  applied  the  force  of  law  to  extort  from  the  people  his 
payments  in  money   of  a  different  kind  and  more  costly  than  that 
which  had  been  specified  in  the  agreement ;  5.  That  he  had  kept  on 
increasing  his  offences  connected  with  his  matrimonial  relations.     Un- 
der these  circumstances  we  could  not  throw  all  the  blame  upon  the 
congregation,  nor  pronounce  Mr.  Wolf  entirely  innocent.     We  could 
discover  no  decretum  curiae,  for  there  had  been  none  pronounced.     In 
some  points  the  congregation  pleaded  guilty  and  professed  its  readiness 
to  submit  to  the  proper  penalty,  but  we  could  not  possibly  prevail 
upon  them  to  accept  of  Mr.  Wolf  as  their  pastor  any  longer.     After 
this  we  begged  Mr.  Wolf  and  the  congregation  to  allow  us  to  petition 
the  civil  authorities  for  permission  to  refer  the  whole  matter  to  the 
Right  Reverend  Consistory  of  Hamburg  with  the  view  of  obtaining 
their  "  Final   Sentence ; "  all  legal   processes  being    suspended  in  the 
meantime  until  the  answer  should  arrive.     Against  this  the  congrega- 
tion raised  no  special  objection,  but  Mr.  Wolf  strongly  opposed  it  as 
soon  as  he  heard  that  the  legal  processes  would  be  suspended,  which, 
however,  was  sure  to  be  the  case  in  any  event,  because  the  civil  au- 
thorities were  heartily  tired  of  the  whole  affair. 


APPENDIX   TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  195 

His  Eeverence,  Pastor  Knoll,  was  very  urgent  in  begging  Mr.  Wolf 
to  accompany  him  to  New  York  and  establish  a  Latin  school  in  that 
city  in  the  meantime.     The  other  pastors  requested  him  to  go  with 
them  to  Pennsylvania  and  teach  school  there.      However,  his  own 
opinion  was,  that  as  he  had  been  called  to  preach  the  Gospel,  the  work 
of  teaching  school  would  injure  his  character.     Now,  as  he  could  not 
be  persuaded  to  anything  and  seemed  bent  upon  bartering  his  vocation 
and  his  claims,  for  money,  or  going  on  to  the  utter  ruin  of  himself  and 
the  congregation,  and  as  we  ourselves  were  in  a  sharp  dilemma,  we 
considered  at  once  how  we  might  put  an  end  to  the  matter. 
^  Accordingly,  with  the  aid  of  the  protocol  w^e  drew  up  several  ques- 
tions, general  in  their  character,  which  we  submitted  to  Mr.  Wolf  and 
the  congregation,  requesting  answers  from  them.     These  questions  he 
did  answer,  signing  the  answers  with  his  own  hand  in  the  presence  of 
the  whole  congregation  and  of  disinterested  witnesses.     See  Letter  F. 
Now,  simply  as  an  experiment,  the  two  arbitrators  who  represented 
the  congregation  extracted  from  this  document,  written  and  signed  by 
Mr.  Wolf's  own  hand,  a  certain  kind  of  declaration  in  the  form  of  a 
"Final  Sentence,"  and  submitted  it  to  his  Reverence,  Pastor  Knoll,  so 
as  to  obtain  his  opinion.     Pastor  Knoll  did  not  judge  it  advisable  to 
affix  his  name  to  this  paper,  consequently  the  other  two  arbitrators 
erased  their  signatures.     This  form  of  "Final  Sentence,"  which  had 
been   prepared   by  way  of  experiment,  might  have  been  thoroughly 
amended  and  so  arranged  that  the  whole  business  could  have  been  re- 
ferred to  the  judgment  of  the  Very  Reverend  Ministerium  of  Hamburg 
if  Mr.  AVolf  would  have  consented  to  such  reference.     But  as  he  'did 
not  show  the  least  inclination  so  to  do,  we  three  arbitrators  kept  very 
quiet  and  allowed  Mr.  AYolf  to  go  on  talking  and  proposing  to  suit 
himself.     Mr.  Wolf  wanted  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  and  the  con- 
gregation were  not  willing  to  pay  him  much,  because,  as  they  said, 
they  had  got  very  little  for  it.     The  few  deacons  who  were  under  bonds 
for  the  payment  of  the  salary,  and  who  had  been  suffering  for  a  long 
time  from  the  burden  and  the  heat,  anxiously  desired  to  have  the 
business  settled,  so  that  they  might  be  released  from  their  oppressive 
load.     Others  were  more  resolute  and  would  not  listen  to  any  proposi- 
tion about  paying  money.     Mr.  Wolf  advanced  in  his  demands,  and 
at  last  stopped  at  90  pounds.     At  first  he  had  offered  to  surrender  his 
call  and  all  his  claims  for  50  pounds,  then  again  for  70  pounds ;  but 
now  he  insisted  upon  90  pounds.     Now,  as  he  would  not  yield  a  far- 
thing from  this  sum,  we  were  compelled  to  address  the  congregation  in 
very  positive  terms,  and  to  employ  divers  arguments  in  order  to  per- 
suade them  to  consent  to  pay  it.     After  much  talk  on  one  side  and  on 
the  other,  the  three  men  of  the  other  party  who  had  been  personally 
responsible  for  the  salary  agreed  to  pay  the  90  pounds  on  condition 
that  Mr.  Wolf  would  pay  his  own  expenses  incurred  by  the  prosecution 
of  the  suit.     But  how  were  the  90  pounds  to  be  raised?     The  men 


196  APPENDIX   TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

who  had  been  bound  for  the  payment  of  the  salary  had  paid  Mr.  Wolf 
in  part  already,  a  writ  of  execution  to  that  effect  haying  been  issued 
against  them.  The  members  of  the  congregation,  among  the  hills, 
fearing  an  execution,  had  also  paid  in  great  part.  Against  the  ma- 
jority of  the  other  members  living  at  Rahway  an  execution  for  part  of 
the  salary  had  already  been  issued.  So  nothing  was  left  for  us  to  do 
save  to  impose  the  heaviest  tax  upon  the  people  of  Kahway,  although 
the  church  was  very  weak,  having  lost  some  of  its  people  who  had 
gone  off"  to  the  Anabaptists,  and  including  in  its  membership  tAvo  poor, 
honest  negroes  who  had  been  converted  by  the  Lutheran  doctrine,  and 
other  poor  persons  besides.  The  levying  of  this  tax  stirred  up  a  very 
bitter  feeling  in  the  hearts  of  all  upon  whom  it  fell,  except  the  two 
poor  negroes.  Some  were  enraged  and  asserted  that  INIr.  Wolf  was  a 
very  Judas,  and  that  he  was  more  concerned  about  his  purse  than 
about  needy,  perishing  souls.  He  did  not  mind  this,  however,  and  was 
well  pleased  that  the  business  had  progressed  so  far.  We  arbitrators 
had  to  put  up  with  many  a  hard  speech ;  the  people  informing  us  that 
as  Lutheranism  was  so  unjust  they  would  never  have  anything  to  do 
with  it  hereafter ;  that  many  a  poor  man  would  have  to  sell  his  clothes 
and  his  cattle  before  the  money  could  be  raised  to  pay  these  wages  of 
unrighteousness.  We,  however,  heard  all  in  a  patient  spirit  and  held 
our  peace. 

!N^ow,  as  the  two  parties  had  thus  entered  into  a  final  contract,  Mr. 
Wolf  himself  having  specially  proposed  it,  our  arbitration  came  to 
nought ;  and  there  was  nothing  left  for  us  to  do  but  to  direct  our  in- 
fluence towards  the  raising  of  the  money  and  also,  to  act  as  witnesses 
of  the  agreement.  Accordingly,  his  reverence.  Pastor  Knoll,  in  the 
name  of  the  individuals  representing  the  two  contracting  parties,  drew 
up  the  agreement,  in  writing,  embodying  therein  the  90  pounds  as  the 
sum  specified.  See  copy.  Letter  A.  After  this  document  had  been 
regularly  signed,  the  men  whose  names  had  been  attached  to  the  call 
and  agreement  of  1735,  asked  Mr.  Wolf  to  surrender  the  paj^ers  by 
wdiich  he  had  hitherto  been  worrying  them  with  his  WTits  of  execution. 
Mr.  Wolf  delivered  them  up  very  willingly.  As  far  as  we  could  ob- 
serve, they  did  not  disturb  the  body  of  the  document,  but  satisfied 
themselves  with  tearing  off  their  own  names  which  had  been  subscribed 
to  it.  To  tell  the  truth,  these  papers  were  already  pretty  well  used  up 
in  the  tedious  law  suits  and  the  skirmishes  of  the  lawyers.  As  arbi- 
trators we  had  nothing  to  say  about  this  affair ;  because  as  soon  as  the 
parties  had  closed  the  contract,  our  power  of  arbitration  was  ended. 
Even  Mr.  Wolf  himself  took  no  further  interest  in  these  papers;  but 
kept  in  a  good  humor,  being  busy  in  receiving  a  part  of  his  money  and 
in  writing  receipts  for  it. 

After  these  men  had  torn  off  their  names,  the  pastors  from  Pennsyl- 
vania took  charge  of  the  papers,  and  are  prepared  to  deliver  them  up 
to  the  Right  Reverend  Miuisterium  whenever  they  may  be  demanded. 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  197 

The  foregoing  is  the  whole  history  of  the  affiiir;  this  we  have  certified 
by  our  names  subscribed ;  and  if  the  Right  Keverend  Miuisterium  shouhl 
require  it,  we  are  willing  to  confirm  it  by  a  solemn  oath,  here,  in  the 
presence  of  an  officer  of  the  government.  We  therefore  most  humbly 
beg,  that  your  High  and  Most  Excellent  Reverences  may  take  the  fore- 
going statement  into  your  calm  and  impartial  consideration,  and  then 
kindly  inform  us  whether,  whilst  thus  acting  under  the  imj^erative 
force  of  circumstances,  we  have  erred  in  the  conclusion  we  have 
reached.  If  we  have  erred  it  was  certainly  the  result  of  infirmity  and 
not  of  intention.  AVe  declare,  before  God,  that  His  own  glory,  the 
w^elfare  of  the  whole  church,  the  noble  efforts  of  your  Right  Reverend 
Ministerium  and  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  both  parties  pressed 
heavily  upon  our  hearts.  We  would  have  pronounced  ourselves  happy 
if  we  could  have  kept  ourselves  clear  of  the  matter,  with  a  good  con- 
science, as  Pastor  Berkenmeyer  did !  Happier  still  would  we  have  been, 
if  w^e  could  have  snatched  away  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  civil  au- 
thorities a  matter  far  too  weighty  for  our  weak  judgment,  and  trans- 
ferred it,  for  full  and  final  decision,  to  the  riper  judgment  of  our 
Fathers  of  the  Reverend  Ministerium ;  thus  bringing  so  many  impossi- 
bilities within  the  range  of  the  possible.  But,  1st,  we  were  not  able  to 
furnish  Mr.  Wolf  with  a  good  memory  in  spiritual  things,  although  in 
wordly  affairs  his  memory  was  so  keen  that  he  knew  and  could  relate 
all  about  the  veriest  trifles  that  had  occurred  twelve  years  ago ;  2d,  we 
found  it  impossible  to  reconcile  him  to  his  wife.  His  reasons  for  dis- 
carding his  wife  and  their  two  youngest  children  proceeded  chiefly 
from  his  own  suspicions  and  prejudices,  as  appeared  in  an  accusation 
touching  this  matter  which  he  laid  before  us  in  writing.  He  asserted 
that  the  youngest  child  w^as  the  offspring  of  a  negro,  though  no  one 
could  detect  the  slightest  sign  of  this;  but  on  the  contrary,  his  own 
features  were  very  strongly  displayed  upon  the  face  of  the  child.  In 
the  mean  time  the  poor  woman  had  found  it  hard  to  get  along  with  her 
two  poor  children,  not  having  had  the  least  help  from  the  father,  and 
indeed,  nothing  at  all,  except  what  some  compassionate  people  bestowed 
upon  her.  We  examined  these  two  children  who  had  been  under  the 
care  of  the  mother,  and  found  that  they  could  read  somewhat  and  had 
learnt  some  out  of  the  catechism.  Mr.  Wolf  himself  had  had  his  son, 
of  ten  years  of  age,  under  his  care ;  and  led  a  very  irregular  life  with 
him,  during  the  time  of  his  separation  from  his  wife.  We  examined 
this  poor  child,  but  he  did  not  know  even  the  ten  commandments. 
Their  separation  was  scandalous,  but  their  living  together  as  man  and 
wife  was  even  more  absurd.  He  had  the  creature  with  him  for  three 
months  before  he  married  her.  For  some  time  after  their  marriage,  he 
would  put  a  seal  upon  his  doors  at  night,  and  if  per  chance,  the  night- 
frost  or  an  agitation  of  a  door  would  produce  a  crack  in  the  sealing- 
wax  he  would  call  his  wife  the  most  infamous  w ,  cuff  her  and  beat 

her,  so  that  he  became  the  song  of  the  young  people,  and  the  old  made 


198  APPENDIX   TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

themselves  merry  over  their  dominie ;  3d,  Mr.  AVolf  did  DOt  possess  the 
graces  of  meekness  and  patience,  and  a  friendly  manner.  For  this 
reason  a  certain  mistrust  was  started  already,  upon  his  first  arrival  in 
New  York.  Yet,  notwithstanding  this,  he  was  received  by  the  congre- 
gation as  an  angel  from  heaven,  and  many  gifts  were  liberally  bestowed 
upon  him.  INIr.  B.  P.,  a  man  of  easy  circumstances,  offered  to  give 
him  a  home  in  his  own  large  and  comfortable  residence ;  but  he  de- 
clined the  offer  and  that  in  a  rude,  harsh  manner.  AVhen,  at  the  be- 
ginning of  his  work,  he  was  advised  to  make  earnest  efforts  to  preach 
from  memory,  as  having  been  sent  to  be  a  preacher  and  not  a  reader, 
his  answer  is  said  to  have  been,  "these  boors  will  have  to  put  up  with 
it,  and  even  if  they  do  not,  still  they  will  be  compelled  to  pay  me  my 
salary."  Several  of  them  testified  that  he  very  soon  became  enamoured 
of  a  farmer's  daughter ;  that  this  young  woman  had  acted  as  sponsor 
for  the  first  infant  he  baptised,  and  that  directly  after  the  baptism  he 
asked  the  deacons,  where  this  girl  lived?  (We  pass  over  the  very  offen- 
sive observation  that  follows.)  Now,  although  his  reverence.  Pastor 
Berkenmeyer,  and  Pastor  Knoll  had  taken  the  deepest  interest  in  him, 
admonishing  him  kindly  and  earnestly,  and  had  effected  a  reconcilia- 
tion in  1735,  and  established  a  new  contract  thereupon,  still,  it  would 
not  stand.  In  this  new  contract  he  pledged  himself  to  do  all  that  his 
call  had  demanded  of  him.  He  promised  to  preach  from  memory.  He 
bound  himself  to  observe  the  Order  of  the  New  York  Kirchen-Agenda, 
strictly,  and,  in  the  payment  of  his  salary,  to  be  satisfied  with  New 
Jersey  money.  At  the  same  time,  the  congregation  was  bound  to  erect 
a  pastor's  residence  for  him  within  four  weeks.  The  day  after  the 
making  of  this  contract  had  hardly  dawned,  before  ]Mr.  Wolf,  having 
been  earnestly  entreated  to  visit  the  daughter  of  Christian  Streit,  then 
on  her  death-bed,  and  to  fortify^  her  with  the  Lord's  Supper,  refused  to 
do  it ;  and  this  gave  occasion  to  new  and  deep  dissatisfaction.  Further, 
he  made  no  effort  to  preach  from  memory,  but  kept  on  insisting  upon 
the  new  house  that  was  to  be  built.  After  the  contract  was  closed  he 
continued  to  be  as  stubborn  as  before,  would  not  follow  the  Order  of 
the  Kirchen-Agenda,  as  had  been  stipulated,  and  did  not  understand, 
at  all,  how  to  catechise  the  children,  asking  them  questions  on  deep, 
theological  subjects  the  first  time  he  met  them.  On  one  occasion  he 
visited  the  school  and  plunged,  at  once,  into  a  quarrel  with  the  school- 
master. It  is  true  indeed,  that  the  people  reported  hard  things  against 
him,  but  he  himself  did  not  spare  them,  giving  them  the  same  measure 
as  they  had  given  him. 

The  congregation  had  begun  to  build  the  house  according  to  the 
contract,  but  it  was  not  finished  within  the  four  weeks,  and  as  Mr. 
Wolf  had  first  broken  the  contract,  the  congregation  would  not  allow 
him  to  occupy  the  house,  even  after  it  had  been  completed.  Mr.  Wolf 
then  consulted  the  lawyers  who  advised  him  to  break  the  house  open 
and  move  in  sometime  during  the  twilight,  between  day  and  night. 


APPENDIX   TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION.  199 

Then  if  complaint  should  be  brought  against  him  he  could  plead  that 
he  did  not  break  into  the  house  either  by  day  or  by  night,  and  that  he 
was  occupying  it  according  to  stipulated  terms.  Mr.  Wolf  followed 
this  advice,  and  he  had  hardly  got  into  the  house  during  the  twilight, 
before  a  mob  of  loose,  boisterous  women  gathered  together  and  dragged 
him  out  in  broad  daylight  after  considerable  squabbling  among  them- 
selves. Such  sad  affairs,  of  course,  occasion  great  scandal  in  this  free 
country  where  all  kinds  of  sects  so  plentifully  abound. 

4.  Mr.  Wolf  himself  first  undertook  to  wrest  the  decision  of  the 
matter  from  the  jurisdiction  of  his  ecclesiastical  superiors,  and  to  drag 
it  before  the  civil  authorities.  We  know  very  well  what  difficulties 
are  encountered  in  Europe,  when,  as  occasionally  happens,  the  author- 
ities of  the  Government  undertake  to  impose  a  restraint  upon  a  com- 
munity, or  upon  a  parish ;  how  much  less  can  we  expect  to  result  from 
the  intervention  of  the  brachium  seculare  in  this  strange  country, 
where  other  laws  prevail.  It  is  a  great  blunder  to  allow  things  to 
come  to  such  a  pass.  When  legal  process  is  resorted  to  then  confidence 
is  gone. 

5.  The  fact  that  Mr.  Wolf,  prior  to  the  writ  of  execution,  declared 
upon  oath  before  a  magistrate,  that  he  had  done  his  duty  and  fulfilled 
his  contract,  could  not  otherwise  than  occasion  great  scandal.  It  is  as 
clear  as  day  that  he  never  preached  twdce  on  any  one  Sunday,  as  his 
"  Instructions  "  demanded ;  and  even,  that  having  kept  on  reading  off 
an  old  sermon  for  six  consecutive  Sundays,  he  Avould  hardly  stop  it 
then.  It  is  also  clear  that  he  never  visited  the  sick,  and  otherwise 
neglected  his  duty. 

6.  When  in  violation  of  the  contract  he  forced  the  people  to  pay 
him  in  better  money  than  had  been  agreed  upon,  he  gave  an  offence 
that  could  not  be  tolerated,  for  such  conduct  tramples  upon  honesty, 
and  its  impressions  are  altogether  unfavorable.  Now^  as  we  saw  that 
the  congregations  were  gradually  dying  out ;  that  in  the  ten  years  that 
followed  the  last  contract  only  two  young  persons  had  been  prepared 
for  the  Lord's  Supper  and  confirmed;  that  the  congregations  them- 
selves had  not  celebrated  the  Holy  Supper  in  nine  years ;  that  the  sick 
had  been  neglected  and  the  schools  not  visited;  w^e  most  urgently 
begged  Mr.  Wolf  to  consent  to  a  change  and  seek  to  make  himself 
useful  in  teaching  school.     But  urgent  as  we  were,  it  was  in  vain. 

7.  On  the  contrary,  Mr.  Wolf  was  pleased  to  keep  house  in  a  most 
miserable  way,  with  his  son,  unwashed,  uncombed,  lounging  about  m  a 
lazy  life,  and  living  upon  the  money  which  he  obtained  by  the  writ  of 
execution.  At  this  time,  however,  he  seems  to  live  in  peace  and  to  be 
better  satisfied ;  as  both  he  and  his  son  are  giving  attention  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  a  piece  of  ground. 

8.  We  had  no  authority  to  leave  the  main  question  in  suspense ;  for 
the  arbitrators  were  appointed  for  the  very  purpose  of  effecting  a  final 
decision  and  determining  an  aAvard;  to  which  effect  Mr.  Wolf  had 


200  APPENDIX    TO   SECONJD    CONTINUATIOK. 

himself  given  surety  in  the  contract,  to  the  amount  of  55  pounds.  We 
could  apply  no  outward  force,  nor  any  raisonments  that  would  prevail 
to  obtain  Mr.  Wolf's  consent  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  final  judgment 
of  the  Very  Reverend  Ministerium  of  Hamburg.  At  the  very  begin- 
ning, we  could  not  even  persuade  him  to  come  to  an  understanding 
with  the  Keverend  Ministerium,  as  had  been  desired. 

9.  We  could  not  prevent  Mr.  Wolf  from  making  a  bargain  with  his 
congregations  and  bartering  off  his  privileges  and  rights  for  money ; 
stabat  enim  j^ro  ratione  voluntas. 

10.  We  could  not  hinder  the  men  who  had  been  personally  respon- 
sible, from  tearing  off  their  names  from  the  call  and  the  contract  of 
1735;  for  Mr.  Wolf  had  delivered  up  these  papers;  and,  in  considera- 
tion of  their  paying  him  90  pounds,  the  opposite  party  wanted  to  be 
saved  from  further  troubles  and  executions,  as  had  been  agreed  upon. 

Now,  after  the  whole  affair  had  been  thus  terminated,  the  congrega- 
tions paid  to  each  of  the  arbitrators  3  pounds,  Pennsylvania  currency, 
as  a  recompense  for  their  services.  Mr.  Magister  Wagner  had  to  ride 
252  miles  on  horseback,  and  Muhlenberg  140  miles,  in  like  manner, 
and  to  spend  six  weary  days  and  nights  in  the  tedious  work.  What 
Mr.  Wolf  gave  to  his  reverence.  Pastor  Knoll  for  his  hard  journey  and 
labor  may  be  easily  imagined.  So,  no  one  can  say,  with  clear  con- 
science, that  bribes  and  gifts  had  blinded  the  arbitrators;  for  Mr. 
Wolf  himself  put  an  end  to  the  transactions  of  his  own  free  will.  As 
to  the  rest,  ^Ir.  Wolf  is  now  at  liberty  to  devote  himself  to  school  teach- 
ing or  to  preaching  in  other  regions,  where  he  is  not  known ;  for  the 
German  people  have  spread  themselves  from  north  to  south  in  America, 
over  more  than  a  thousand  miles.  Yet,  if  he  should  prefer  to  till  the 
ground  and  to  continue  separate  from  his  wife,  he  may  be  able  to  sup- 
port himself  in  that  way,  and  earning  his  bread  in  the  sweat  of  his 
brow,  he  may  enjoy  it  more  than  to  depend  upon  writs  of  execution. 

We  humbly  beg  then,  Very  Reverend  Sii-s,  that  you  may  be  pleased 
to  honor  and  to  instruct  us  with  a  gracious  answer,  setting  forth  the 
view  which  your  impartial  judgment  and  kindness  takes  of  the  subject,, 
as  also  defining  in  what  manner  Ave,  who  are  now  laboring  in  this  re- 
mote and  desolate  wilderness,  so  far  away  from  our  honored  patrons 
and  fathers,  should  conduct  ourselves.  We  entreat  further,  that  you 
will  not  cease  to  remember  and  plead  for  each  and  all  of  us  and  our 
inftmt  congregations,  in  your  earnest  prayers. 

We  remain  with  life-long  veneration,  Very  Reverend  Sirs,  your  most 
obedient  servants  and  fellow-laborers  in  the  gospel. 

The  Three  Arbitrators. 

Muhlenberg, 

Wagner, 

Knoll. 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  201 

IV. 

Extract  of  a  letter  of  Pastor  Berkenmeyer's,  dated  "Lunenburg, 
May  20th,  1745,"  addressed  to  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  Philadelphia. 

"  In  testimony  of  the  profound  respect  I  owe  you,  my  dear  brother, 
I  answer  the  questions  you  have  addressed  to  me,  and  what  is  implied 
in  them,  as  follows. 

1.  That  my  attendance  has  not  been  asked,  as  I  have  already  stated. 

2.  That  I  am,  by  no  means,  willing  to  allow  the  settlement  of  the 
afiair  to  be  thrown  upon  my  own  responsibility  alone ;  and  that  I  am 
as  little  inclined  to  enter  into  it  merely  as  a  supernumerary,  in  com- 
pany with  others. 

3.  That  I  am  well  convinced,  that  according  to  human  judgment,  it 
is  impossible  to  bring  about  a  good  understanding  between  the  two  par- 
ties; and  at  the  same  time,  that  it  is  just  as  impossible  to  send  Mr. 
Wolf  off  to  Europe,  if  he  is  not  ready  to  go  of  his  own  accord ;  fur- 
ther, it  is  not  possible  for  him  to  do  more  good  in  Europe  than  he  can 
here.  Indeed,  if  I  may  venture  to  say  what  I  think  or  dream,  he  is  to 
be  handled  as  a  person  wdio  is  vix  ac  ne  quidem  compos  mentis.  Beg- 
ging your  pardon,  I  venture  to  ask  a  question,  would  not  this  be  either 
simply  making  a  victim  of  Mr.  W.  or  an  imputation  against  the  Rev. 
Ministerium  (.of  Hamburg),  to  the  effect  that  they  had  sent  the  con- 
gregations a  madman,  whom  we,  hereby,  throw  back  upon  their  hands, 
adjnstrinam,  etc.? 

Your  Reverence  remarks  incidentally,  that  Mr.  Wolf's  appeal  to  the 
law  w^as  an  occasion  of  reproach  to  him,  in  Pennsylvania.  In  hypo- 
thesi,  I  have  never  approved  of  Mr.  W.'s  proceeding;  but  in  thesi,  I 
thank  God  that  He  has  permitted  him  to  find  a  refuge  behind  the 
shields  of  the  earth.  AVho  can  help  it  if  a  sharp  knife  in  the  hands  of 
a  madman  should  become  a  broadsword?  Who  can  prevent  profanum 
vulgus  from  avoiding  the  bit  and  the  bridle,  when  they  boldly  say,  Sve 
are  determined  not  to  submit ; '  and  when  they  regard  our  liberties  as 
licentiam  impune  peccandi?  It  is  indeed,  contrary  to  sound  reason  to 
call  a  pastor  and  then,  under  the  influence  of  selfish  caprice,  to  order 
him  back  again  to  the  place  from  which  he  came.  It  is  contrary  to  the 
laws  of  the  land  to  allow  the  meanest  Karst  (illegible)  to  come  into 
the  province,  or  into  a  county,  or  even  to  move  into  a  house,  and  then 
cast  upon  the  county  the  burden  of  his  maintenance. 

As  far  as  I  am  informed,  the  issuing  of  the  writ  of  execution  every 
year,  is,  not  so  much  for  the  advantage  of  Mr.  W.,  as  for  the  support 
of  his  wife  and  children,  after  the  separatio  a  thoro,  coram  judicio,  was 
confirmed.  If  the  congregation  had  not  undertaken,  by  means  of  the 
woman,  to  dig  a  pit  for  Mr.  W.,  perhaps  they  would  not  have  fallen 
into  it  themselves.  Your  Reverence  writes,  as  the  people  also  report, 
that  the  harm  done  to  the  congregation  and  the  scandal  is  clear  as  day. 
No  one  can  deny  this;  but  can  the  people  tell  who  i^the  Auctor  rixse? 


202  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

The  people  talk  a  great  deal,  and  most  frequently  without  any  founda- 
tion for  their  talk ;  often  per  hysteron  proteron,  to  say  no  more.  Ought 
not  the  complete  Acta  to  decide  the  affair?  Now,  these  records  wdll 
make  it  very  clear  that  Mr.  W.  of  course,  has  to  be  the  victim ;  but 
they  will  also  reveal  who  the  people  are  that  have  brought  him  into 
that  position.  I  except  casum  divortii;  but  they  who  may  now  be 
burnt  with  this  matter,  have,  themselves,  been  pouring  oil  ujDon  the 
fire. 

As  to  the  rest,  your  reverence  says  that  I  should  come  to  the  relief 
of  Mr.  W.  and  of  the  congregation,  should  help  to  put  an  end  to  the 
miserable  affair,  should  issue  some  formal  order  to  that  effect,  should 
spare  you  the  wearisome  journey  and  should  send  in  my  sentiment,  in 
writing ;  to  all  of  which  my  respectful  reply  is,  that  I  have  read  these, 
your  requests,  with  astonishment  and  trembling ;  especially,  since  these 
things  are  proposed  as  proofs  of  the  sincerity  of  my  zeal  for  the  welfare 
of  the  whole  Church,  etc.,  etc.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  consequence 
of  my  so  doing  would  be,  that  the  weight  of  all  the  mischief  and  the 
scandal  would  fall  upon  myself,  or  that  I  would  be  responsible  for  it. 
Indeed,  I  am  thoroughly  convinced  that  the  good  hand  of  God  has 
saved  me  from  being  burdened  with  such  an  onus,  angelicis  humeris 
tremendum,  and  so  protected  me,  even  when  I  was  compelled  to 
meddle  in  the  business,  that  the  Righteous  Judge  will  not  demand  the 
blood  of  the  down-trodden  at  my  hands :  as  little  can  I  be  held  to  ac- 
count for  that  which  has  not  been  committed  to  my  charge. 

Your  reverence  may  observe  from  this,  that  as  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  see,  there  has  been  no  demand  made  upon  me,  either  from  the 
one  side  or  from  the  other,  to  take  the  least  interest  in  the  subject.  I 
hope,  therefore,  that  you  will  most  graciously  excuse  me  from  entering 
into  the  matter  more  fully  than  I  do  in  this  present  writing.  From 
the  beginning  until  the  present  time  the  congregation  has  treated  Mr. 
W.  so  unreasonably,  in  such  an  unchristian  and  barbarous  manner, 
that  it  would  be  hard  to  find  any  case  that  could  exceed  it  in  coarse- 
ness. If,  which  may  God  forbid !  they  should  ruin  themselves  for  time 
and  for  eternity,  they  have  only  brought  the  ruin  upon  themselves. 
Before  Mr.  W.  appealed  to  the  brachium  seculare,  which  they  had  pre- 
viously employed  against  him,  he  demanded  no  more  than  £50,  promis- 
ing, on  that  condition,  to  give  up  the  congregation  altogether.  But 
then  their  answer  was,  not  a  "witje"  shall  he  have.  The  Decretum 
Curiae  will  make  it  plain  enough  that  no  butcher  knife  was  flourished 
in  the  face  of  the  congregation ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  there  was  em- 
ployed a  praiseworthy  zeal  in  the  interest  of  Justice,  and  a  commenda- 
ble prudence  in  seeking  to  promote  the  welfare  of  both  parties.  But 
the  congregation  being  unwilling  to  make  up  with  Mr.  W.  ex  decreto 
superiorum,  or  to  seek  further  advice  and  assistance,  one  said  that  he 
would  pay  Mr.  W.  with  a  bullet  in  his  head,  and  others  resorted  to  all 
kinds  of  Chicanen  more  for  the  purpose  of  ridiculing  Justice  than  Mr.  W. 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  203 

Pendente  lite,  the  congregation  got  Langerfeld,  the  poulterer,  to  draw 
up  a  complaint,  with  the  intention  of  thereby  underhandedly  securing 
a  cons,  decisum,  upon  their  one  sided  statement;  keeping  the  whole 
affair  to  themselves,  so  that  Berkenmeyer  should  know  nothing  about 
it.  Now,  as  this  attempt  did  not  result  as  the  fools  intended,  and  as  a 
copy  of  the  whole  proceeding  had  been  promptly  sent  to  me,  all  respect 
for  the  Fathers  of  the  Consistory  was  gone,  as  well  as  that  for  Berken- 
meyer himself  As  I  had  received  orders  from  the  Reverend  Minis- 
terium  to  report  the  whole  business  to  them,  it  has,  accordingly,  hap- 
pened that  I  have  placed  all  the  original  documenta  in  the  hands  of 
the  Rev.  Senior  Palm ;  and  although  I  begged  that  express  instruc- 
tions might  be  given  to  the  Rev.  Pastor  Knoll,  whose  influence  was  yet 
acknowledged  in  the  congregation,  the  Rev.  Senior  sent  him  nothing 
but  a  verbal  salutation  by  Rev.  Pastor  Sommer. 

After  the  death  of  Rev.  Senior  Palm  I  addressed  my  renewed  peti- 
tion to  Rev.  Senior  Wagner,  requesting  also  that  the  documenta  should 
be  carefully  preserved,  at  least,  in  case  the  Reverend  Ministerium 
should  not  come  to  a  final  decision.  But  upon  all  this  nothing  but 
altum  silentium  has  followed. 

So,  it  is  clear  that  the  whole  affair  has  passed  away  from  my  hands ; 
that  possibly,  but  hardly,  may  a  Cons.  Decisum  be  expected  from  the 
Reverend  Ministerium  of  Hamburg ;  that  the  affair  of  Mr,  Wolf  really 
belongs  no  more  to  the  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction,  but  to  that  of  the 
Government ;  that  the  annual  issuing  of  the  writ  of  execution  was  not 
so  much  for  Mr.  Wolf's  benefit  as  for  the  support  uxoris  repwdiatte ;  in 
short  that  the  whole  affair  is  a  nodus  Gordicus.  In  the  meantime,  with 
your  kind  permission,  I  will  give  you  my  videtur,  by  way  of  expressing 
the  great  gratification  I  have  derived  from  the  efforts  of  your  reverence 
to  put  an  end  to  the  miserable  affair. 

1.  I,  for  my  own  person,  must  be  left  out  of  view;  for  the  reason  that 
neither  Mr.  Wolf  nor  the  congregation  has  any  confidence  in  me.  They 
may  say  why?  or  rather  acknowledge:  non  possum  dicere  quare.  I 
can  say  Avith  Richard  Baxter :  "  I  have  made  a  wedge  of  my  bare  hand 
by  putting  it  into  a  cleft,  and  both  sides  have  closed  upon  me  to  my 
pain." 

2.  It  would  be  advisable  for  your  reverence  and  Mr.  Magister  Wag- 
ner, acting  under  the  advice  of  the  congregation,  to  admit  the  Rev.  Pas- 
tor Knoll,  as  an  associate,  to  your  deliberations.  He  is  well  posted  in 
the  matter ;  and,  as  already  intimated,  he  is  Ordinarius  to  divers  per- 
sons in  the  congregation. 

3.  Before  the  Commission  begins  to  act,  both  Mr.  Wolf  and  the  con- 
gregation should  be  put  under  bonds,  and  so,  obligate  themselves  ac- 
cording to  law  to  abide  by  your  decision,  whatever  it  may  be. 

4.  The  main  question  may  be  held  in  suspenso,  and  in  statu  quo,  as 
res  judicata  ;  or  investigated  only  from  the  last  periodo. 

5.  The  Decretum  Curiae  must  be  accepted  as  basis,  so  as  to  ascertain 


204  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

whether  the  parties  have  complied  with  it.  For,  suppose,  that  Mr. 
Wolf  is  not  able  to  preach,  or  is  uot  willing  to  preach,  how  can  the 
Court  shield  him  against  its  own  decree  ?  Or,  suppose,  the  congrega- 
tion is  not  willing  to  hear  him,  nor,  in  their  habitual  stubborness,  to 
allow  him  to  preach.  AVho  will  say  that  that  is  right  ?  or,  who  will 
find  fault  with  the  decree  ?  In  my  opinion,  if  the  congregation  were 
able  to  prove  impotentiam  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Wolf,  the  writ  of  execu- 
tion would  die  out  of  itself. 

6.  Also,  the  reply  which  the  Rev.  Ministerium  has  already  sent  to 
the  congregation  might  be  hunted  up,  so  that  the  advice  therein  given 
might  be  followed  as  far  as  it  is  practicable,  both  at  present  and  for  the 
future.     In  doing  this,  no  one  would  get  his  fingers  burnt. 

7.  Posito,  Mr.  Wolf  is  reduced  to  such  a  pass  that  his  impotence  or 
his  negligence  cannot  be  denied ;  then  the  Court  must  be  petitioned  to 
grant  permission  to  the  congregation  to  request  the  Consistory  to  re- 
move him,  and  to  send  them  another  pastor,  according  to  our  Church 
Order,  by  which  both  the  congregation  and  Mr.  Wolf  are  bound. 

8.  Posito,  the  congregation  is  at  fault,  some  excusing  themselves  on 
the  plea,  that  it  is  not  possible  to  bring  all  heads  under  one  hat ;  then 
the  stubborn  spirits  will  have  to  come  to  Mr.  Wolf,  with  the  hat  under 
the  arm,  and  beg  him  to  give  them  kind  words  only ;  as  also,  in  con- 
sideration of  a  specified  sum  paid  once  for  all,  to  leave  the  congregation 
and  relinquish  his  claims  against  it. 

9.  Upon  these  conditions  I  most  solemnly  assure  your  Reverence 
that  my  votum,  or  my  signature  or  whatever  it  may  be  called,  shall  not 
be  withheld;  and  especially,  that  if  Mr.  Wolf  should  prove  to  be  unfit 
for  his  position,  or  inefficient  or  otherwise  irraisonable,  I  will  do  my  ut- 
most to  oppose  him,  through  his  Excellency,  Governor  Morris,  even  as, 
in  conjunction  with  Rev.  Pastor  Knoll,  I  have  formerly  exerted  myself 
in  his  favor.  But  I  would  specially  insist  upon  this,  that  the  congrega- 
tion be  not  encouraged  in  their  malignity  and  stubbornness,  but  rather 
be  led  deeply  to  repent  before  God,  for  having,  with  very  few  excep- 
tions, sinned  so  grossly,  among  other  ways,  by  their  bold  assertion,  *  we 
will  absolutely  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  Pastor  Wolf  The  peo- 
ple^  at  Rahway  began  to  sing  this  song,  already,  four  weeks  after  his 
arrival,  and  taught  the  rest  to  sing  after  them  what  is  written  in  Gal. 
vi:  6,  7. 

Under  the  heavy  load  that  oppresses  my  heart  I  still  cry  and  pray 
to  God,  that  your  Reverence  and  your  pastoral  work,  and  the  matri- 
monial alliance  into  which  you  have  recently  entered,  may  be  crowned 
with  thousands  of  blessin(?s  from  above. 


APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION.  205 

V. 

Pastor  Knoll  to  Pastor  Berkenmeyer. 

New  York,  Oct.  16th,  1745. 
Reverend  and  Learned  Pastor — Dear  Brother ! 

The  writing  of  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  of  May  1st,  your  reply  of  May  20th, 
and  your  Reverence's  letter  to  myself,  of  Sept.  18th,  have  all  been  re- 
ceived. The  two  first  together  with  a  copy  of  the  last  are  herewith  re- 
turned to  you,  as  you  have  desired. 

As  to  the  whole  affair,  it  would  have  been  satisfactory  to  me, 

1.  If  your  Reverence  could  have  been  personally  present  on  the  spot. 

2.  If,  in  your  reply  to  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  you  had  written  the  conclud- 
ing part  of  your  letter  of  Sept.  18th  to  myself,  instead  of  items  No.  7 
and  8,  as  they  appear  in  the  letter  to  Mr.  M.  In  your  reply  to  Mr. 
Muhlenberg's  friendly  letter  of  May  1st,  inviting  you  to  be  present, 
your  Reverence  states  that  you  would  not  come,  because,  etc.,  etc., 
'  neither  of  the  parties  had  any  confidence  in  you.'  Whereas,  the  con- 
trarv  appears,  as  well  in  the  bond  given  by  both  parties  as  in  the  invi- 
tation which  Mr.  Wolf  sent  to  you.  At  the  same  time,  your  Rever- 
ence, in  your  second  item,  advised  Mr.  Muhlenberg  to  include  me  as 
an  associate  in  the  settlement :  this  was  done. 

3.  You  advised  that  both  parties  should  be  put  under  bond :  this 
also  was  done. 

4.  The  main  question  may  be  held  in  suspenso  (this,  too,  was  the 
case)  and  only  in  statu  quo,  or  investigated  from  the  last  periodo, 
alone.  This  also  would  have  been  done  if  it  had  not  been  contrary  to 
the  very  design  of  the  Arbitration,  and  according  to  the  proverb — 
"wasch  mir  den  Kopf,  aber  mache  ihn  nicht  nass,"  (wash  my  head, 
but  don't  wet  it).  In  the  bond  which  both  parties  signed,  Mr.  Wolf 
and  the  congregations  proposed  a  very  different  course ;  and  the  Arbi- 
trators, following  this  course,  had  to  consider  the  main  question:  other- 
wise they  might  have  stayed  at  home. 

5.  Decretum  Curiae  could  not  be  made  the  basis  of  our  action ;  be- 
cause Curia  had  never  pronounced  a  decision.  As  your  Reverence  is 
aware  the  reply  Rev.  Consistorii  Hamb.  was  wholly  impracticable;  for, 
since  the  vear  1741,  peace  between  the  parties  has  been  altogether  im- 
possible ;  and  with  their  charges  and  counter  charges  they  could  not 
come  to  a  good  understanding.  For  my  part,  I  could  have  wished 
that,  in  respect  to  the  charges  and  counter  charges,  the  testimony  ot 
the  Protokoll  might  be  left  out  of  view ;  but  upon  Mr.  Wolf  s  declar- 
ing that  he  would  rather  resis^n  his  position,  this  suggestion  was  not 
adopted  If  your  Reverence  had  made  matters  plain  to  him,  given 
him  your  advice  in  this  point  and  insisted  upon  his  obedience,  then  my 
proposition  might  have  prevailed.  ^   , 

6.  ^Ir.  Wolf  pronounced  himself  incompetent ;  complaining  for  ten 


206  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

years,  and  on  Aug.  2d  and  5th,  of  the  weakness  of  his  memory ;  he 
also  asserted  that  he  was  incapacitated  by  reason  of  the  incorrigible 
<jonfusion  in  his  family  affairs  and  in  the  congregation. 

7.  Mr.  Berkenmeyer  directed,  that  if  the  people  of  Raritan  could 
not  all  be  put  under  one  hat  (I  take  this  to  mean,  that  if  they  would 
not  all  be  satisfied  with  Mr.  Wolf,)  then  they  should  come  to  an  agree- 
ment with  Mr.  W.  upon  the  basis  of  a  certain  sum  of  money,  upon  re- 
ceiving which  he  should,  once  for  all,  resign  his  charge  and  relinquish 
all  beneficia  juris.  Now,  in  the  first  place,  as  the  people  of  Raritan 
were  all,  to  a  man,  unwilling  to  have  anything  more  to  do  with  Mr. 
Wolf;  in  the  next  place,  as  Mr.  Wolf  had  often,  prior  to  18  months 
ago,  assured  Mr.  Mueller,  Justus,  that  he  would  resign  his  position  for 
50  pounds,  and  within  the  last  18  months  had  demanded  70  pounds ; 
in  the  third  place,  as  Mr.  Berkenmeyer  had  advised  (here  the  lan- 
guage of  Mr.  Berkenmeyer  is  copied  unabridged  in  this  No.  7,  and  as 
far  as  is  necessary  in  the  other  quotations),  and,  in  the  last  place,  a« 
Mr.  Wolf  had  given  his  consent  on  Aug.  2d,  no  unfair  means  having 
been  employed  to  influence  him,  who  would  or  who  could  prevent  the 
settlement  Ave  reached  ?  (Sirach  10 :  29.)  It  cost  us  trouble  enough 
to  obtain  the  approbation  of  the  people.  To  bring  the  people  up  with 
the  hat  under  the  arm  was  an  impossibility,  quite  as  much  so  as  Mr. 
Berkenmeyer  himself  experienced  in  1738,  when  he  found  it  impossi- 
ble to  get  them  to  ask  Mr.  AVolf's  pardon.  Neither  did  Mr.  Wolf 
himself  desire  this ;  he  was  too  well  pleased  to  get  his  money  and  to 
write  his  quittances.  Throughout  the  whole  transaction  he  showed  no 
regard  whatever  for  his  ofiice,  his  calling  or  his  reputation. 

8.  Berkenmeyer  promised,  most  solemnly,  to  affix  his  signature  and 
votum,  if  Mr.  Wolf  should  be  pronounced  unfit,  or  unwilling,  or  forte, 
lazy,  or  otherwise  irraisonable.  This  the  arbitrators  have  regarded 
mere  passive,  and  have  done  nothing  in  respect  to  it,  except  that  they 
have  avoided  throw^ing  any  obstacle  in  the  way  of  Mr.  Wolf.  Accord- 
ingly, Mr.  Berkenmeyer 's  votum  and  signature,  as  promised,  might  be 
requested,  since  we  have  found  that  Mr.  AVolf  failed  to  render  the  ser- 
vice to  which  he  was  bound.  This  was  established  by  the  fact  that  he 
hardly  ever  preached  regularly  for  six  successive  Sundays,  and,  under 
the  most  favorable  circumstances,  never  twice  on  the  same  Sunday; 
that  he  never  visited  the  sick,  and  did  not  even  teach  his  son,  ten  years 
of  age,  the  ten  commandments,  etc.,  etc.  All  this  may  well  be  pro- 
nounced unfitness  and  unwillingness.  Further,  as  to  his  being  irrais- 
onable, your  Reverence  knoAVS  well  how  that  is,  from  his  former  wil- 
lingness to  resign  his  position.  His  refusing  to  visit  Christian  Striet's 
daughter  when  she  was  on  her  death-bed,  his  own  admissions  in  causa 
divortii  were  pressed  home  upon  him,  but  all  in  vain.  Concerning  the 
last  point,  your  reverence  has  perhaps  never  Avritten  to  him  with  more 
hearty  earnestness  than  we  were  able  to  bring  into  action  in  our  per- 
sonal conversations  with  him  at  this  time. 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  207 

What  your  Reverence  says  about  suspension,  deposition,  expulsion, 
appears  to  me  to  be  without  foundation ;  and  I  have  to  say  the  same 
concerning  your  protestation  on  behalf  of  a  deposed  or  suspended  pas- 
tor, for  the  question  about  a  final  decision  or  decretum  did  not  come 
before  us,  neither  was  sentence  pronounced  against  Mr.  Wolf,  dismiss- 
ing him  from  his  office.  As  to  the  two  reverend  arbitrators  who  rep- 
resented the  congregation  and  were  properly  paid  by  the  congregation, 
it  may  not  be  absolutely  clear  quo  animo  they  proposed  it,  but  this  is 
clear,  that  he,  Mr.  Wolf,  did  himself  voluntarily  resign  his  office,  etc., 
etc.,  and  thereby  did  forfeit  and  relinquish  all  his  beneficia  juris  voca- 
tionis.  The  document  of  vocation  was  mutilated  or  torn,  but  as  far  as 
I  am  aware  this  was  not  done  at  the  instigation  of  the  arbitrators.  At 
the  request  of  B.  P.  the  call  was  laid  upon  the  table,  and  when  I  saw 
this  done  I  sadly  thought  with  myself:  Accessorium  sequitur  suum 
Principale,  as  Vespasian  said  at  Jerusalem.  If  the  temple  is  gone, 
what  need  of  a  priest?  If  Mr.  Wolf  leaves  his  office  what  use  for  a 
vocation  ? 

From  all  this  it  follows  that  your  Reverence  should  be  concerned, 
not  about  the  arbitrators,  but  about  Mr.  Wolf,  that  your  protestations 
should  be  directed  to  him,  that  you  should  reprove  him  if  he  has  lost 
his  office  and  his  good  name,  and  that  you  should  encourage  him  to 
seek,  by  proper  efforts  on  his  own  part  with  the  help  of  God's  Grace, 
to  recover  what  he  has  lost.  If  any  other  congregation  should  desire 
his  services,  the  Acta  Arbitrii  show  simply  what  was  done,  not  that  we 
have  deposed  him  from  the  office,  but  that  he  resigned  of  his  own  ac- 
cord on  account  of  weakness  of  memory  and  other  difficulties.  If  his 
memory  should  be  restored  and  the  other  difficulties  removed,  he  will 
be  at  liberty  to  accept  a  call  elsewhere. 

In  P.  S.  you  will  find  a  reference  to  H.  Neis.  For  several  years  he 
attended  our  services  at  Rah  way  in  the  Kloove,  and  in  the  spring  of 
last  year  he  invited  me  to  visit  him  to  hold  divine  service  in  his  house, 
as  his  wife  could  not  comfortably  travel  on  horseback.  The  elders  of 
my  church  approved  of  my  accepting  the  invitation,  and  during  the 
week  after  the  first  Sunday  after  Trinity  they  sent  to  convey  me  to  the 
place.  Two  weeks  afterwards,  and  when  I  was  about  thirty  miles 
from  Yvischkill,  I  could  not  obtain  the  use  of  a  horse,  otherwise,  I 
would,  no  doubt,  have  gone  to  Lunenburg.  Whilst  thus  serving  at  the 
invitation  of  Mr.  Neis,  I  preached  for  the  first  and  last  time ;  that  is 
twice  on  the  same  day.  I  was  not  aware  that  the  locality  was  con- 
nected with  Ancrum  or  Stissing.  They  told  me  it  was  called  Dover. 
I  knew  that  they  had  occasionally  heard  Mr.  Berkenmeyer  preach 
within  the  region "^ belonging  to  Loewenstein.  But  if  they  do  hear  Mr. 
Berkenmeyer  once  in  a  year,  what  harm  can  it  do  if  they  hear  another 
pastor  who  preaches  to  them  without  envy  and  without  ill  will  ?  In 
answer  to  my  inquiries  I  was  informed  that  they  were  Mr.  Berken- 
meyer's  friends  and  people  of  good  character,  and  so  I  do  not  see  how  I 


208  APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

could  be  guilty  of  more  offence  or  interference  than  Mr.  Berkenmeyer 
himself  was,  when,  whilst  traveling  in  the  highlands  among  my  friends, 
he  held  religious  services.  Indeed,  I  offer  my  most  hearty  thanks  to 
Mr.  Berkenmeyer  for  his  trouble,  and  give  my  friends  credit  for  their 
interest  in  the  good  work  on  all  occasions. 

As  to  Mr.  Sommer's  action,  I  cannot  just  noiv  express  an  opinion. 
However,  as  he  preached  on  the  12th  and  18th,  Sundays,  and  Mr. 
Berkenmeyer  on  the  14th,  it  seems  to  me  that  he  did  not  interfere  with 
Mr,  Berkenmeyer,  as  it  was  not  on  the  same  day. 

As  to  the  children  whom  he  baptized,  Mr.  Sommer  could  not  easily 
have  entered  the  record  of  the  baptism  in  the  church  book,  for  the 
book  was  not  in  his  keeping.  The  record,  however,  might  easily  have 
been  entered  if  the  matter  had  been  really  regarded  as  a  serious  one. 

Commending  you  to  the  Grace  of  God  and  with  dutiful  salutations, 
I  remain  your  Reverence's  most  humble  servant, 

Michael  Christian  Knoll. 


VI. 

Declaration,  by  John  N.  Kurtz. 

"Whereas,  all  the  reverend  Pastors  of  the  United  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  especially  in  Philadelphia,  Ger- 
mantown.  Providence,  New  Hanover  and  Tulpehocken,  have,  by  a 
special  instrument  of  writing,  invested  me,  John  N.  Kurtz,  with  the 
office  of  i3astor  of  the  congregation  in  Tulpehocken ;  therefore,  I  regard 
it  to  be  my  duty  and  obligation,  in  accordance  with  the  principles  laid 
down  for  them,  by  our  Superiors  in  Europe,  to  give  assurance,  in  a 
written  declaration,  to  these  said  reverend  Pastors,  and  in  the  presence 
of  the  Holy  One,  that  I  will  fulfil  my  office  in  said  congregation  with 
all  fidelity,  and  according  to  the  ability  which  God  may  give  me,  by 
prayer,  by  supplication  and  by  the  diligent  use  of  the  appointed  means ; 
and,  if  I  should  do  otherwise  that  I  will  thereby  have  forfeited  and 
lost  all  the  rights  that  are  granted  to  me  by  the  instrument  of  writing 
or  call  above  described.  More  particularly,  I  acknowledge  myself  to 
be  bound  to  observe  with  exact  fidelity  the  following  conditions  of  my 
call,  whether  they  are  or  are  not  specially  defined  in  the  above  men- 
tioned instrument. 

1.  To  cherish,  to  observe  and  to  practice  that  respect  and  reverence 
which,  according  to  the  form  of  a  call  drawn  up  by  Rev.  Dr.  Francke, 
of  Halle,  dated  May  21st,  1744,  I  am  bound  to  show  towards  the  rev- 
erend Pastors  of  the  united  congregations. 

2.  To  consider  my  own  congregation  to  be  nothing  else  than  a  part 
of  the  united  congregations. 

3.  To  teach  nothing  in  my  congregation  either  publicly  or  privately, 
save  what  is  in  harmony  with  the  Word  of  God  and  the  confessional 


APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION.  209 

books  of  the  Evaugelical  Lutheran  Church ;  and  for  this  purpose  to 
study  them  diligently. 

4.  To  conduct  no  ceremonies  in  public  worship  and  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  sacraments,  save  those  which  have  been  appointed  by 
(Collegio-Pa^torum)  the  associated  pastors  of  the  united  congregations, 
and  to  use  no  other  "Forms"  than  those  which  the  said  pastors  may 
order  me  to  use. 

5.  To  undertake  no  important  movement  either  by  myself  or  with 
the  cooperation  of  my  Church  Council  without  having  previously  com- 
municated the  matter  to  the  reverend  Collegio-Pastorum  and  obtained 
their  judgment,  also  to  submit  to  and  be  satisfied  with  their  advice  and 
instructions. 

6.  To  present  a  verbal  or  a  written  report  of  my  official  acts  when- 
ever I  am  required  to  do  so  by  the  reverend  Collegio-Pastorum. 

7.  To  keep  a  diary  or  daily  record,  and  to  enter  a  statement  of  my 
official  acts  and  of  whatever  may  be  important,  therein. 

8.  To  render  obedience  and  make  no  resistance  in  case  the  reverend 
Pastors  should  call  me  to  leave  this  congregation. 

These  several  items  and  whatever  may  be  inferred  from  them,  I 
acknowledge  to  be  conditions  of  my  call  and  obligations  by  which  I 
am  bound.  And  I  do  hereby  declare,  before  all  men,  that  if  I  should 
purposely  or  knowingly  transgress  one  or  another  or  all  of  the  above 
items,  I  would  thereby,  and  ipso  facto,  forfeit  all  the  advantages  to 
which  my  call  otherwise  entitles  me,  and  deserve  all  the  punishment 
that  is  suitable  to  such  unfaithfulness. 

In  confirmation  of  the  same  I  hereto  subscribe  my  name  and  affix 
my  seal  in  the  presence  of  the  witnesses  undersigned.  Done  at  Phila- 
delphia, August  13th,  1748. 

John  Nicholas  Kurtz. 

Witness-  I  ^^^^^^^"^  Lauck. 

*  \  John  Nicholas  Schwinsrel. 


VII. 

Examination  and  Ordination  of  the  Catechist  Kurtz. 

On  Aug.  12th,  1748,  We,  the  subscribers,  give  the  Catechist,  Mr. 
Kurtz,  in  view  of  his  examination  and  ordination,  the  following  ques- 
tions, which  he  has  to  answer  in  writing,  preparatory  to  his  examina- 
tion, which  is  to  take  place  to-morrow. 

I.    N.     J.    C. 

I.  The  Examinandus  is  required  to  describe  curriculum  vitse  in  Its 

main  points,  including  the  inward  and  external  guidings  that  he  has 

experienced ;  as  also  his  academical  studies,  and  to  make  this  as  brief 

as  possible.     But  as  all  this  might  be  too  extensive,  for  the  present,  it 

14 


210  APPENDIX    TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

will  be  considered  as  sufficient,  if  he  describes,  (1)  the  circumstances  of 
his  awakening;  (2)  the  way  in  which  God  has  advanced  the  work  of 
Grace  in  his  soul ;  (3)  the  reasons  for  his  devoting  himself  to  the  office 
of  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel ;  where  ?  in  what  branches  of  learning 
and  under  whose  aid  and  advice  he  has  been  seeking  to  prejDare  him- 
self for  that  sacred  office  ? 

II.  What  works  he  has  that  treat  of  theologv. 

III.  Name  the  general  divisions  of  theology,  and  answer  the  follow- 
ing questions : 

1.  What  is  theology  ? 

2.  What  is  sin  in  general ;  specially,  what  is  original  sin  ? 

3.  Describe  the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost. 

4.  Describe,  at  large,  the  justification  of  a  sinner  before  God,  and 

explain  it  by  dictis  probantibus. 

5.  State  the  peculiar  features  of  saving  faith. 

6.  Whether,  and  how  far,  good  works  are  necessary  to  salvation. 

7.  What  sanctification  is,  and  how  it  may  be  most  successfully 

promoted. 

8.  In  what  sense  is  death  the  wages  of  sin  (a)  in  the  experience 

of  Christians  ;  (b)  in  the  experience  of  unconverted  people  ? 

IV.  Whether  our  Evangelical  Lutheran  doctrine  is  the  only  justify- 
ing and  saving  doctrine,  and  where  it  rests  upon  the  Word  of  God. 

V.  Prepare  an  exegesis  of  the  text:  Luke  16:  9. 

VI.  Deduce  a  theme  from  the  same  text,  and  give  its  divisions  and 
its  application,  briefly,  as  a  plan  for  a  sermon. 

YIL  Give  the  distinctive  characteristics  of  a  minister  of  the  Gospel, 
and  specify  his  duties. 

VIII.  In  case  a  person  is  sick  unto  death  and  acknowledges,  in  gen- 
eral, that  he  is  a  sinner,  but  does  not  admit  that  he  is  guilty  of  any 
specific  sin,  how  ought  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  to  treat  him  ? 

IX.  Should  ministers  of  the  Gospel  be  subordinate  to  one  another ; 
and  if  so,  how  far  should  this  subordination  be  maintained  ? 

He  will  be  required  to  lay  before  us  a  clean  copy,  in  writing,  of  the 
foregoing  questions  and  his  answers  thereto,  at  3  o'clock  to-morrow 
afternoon. 

All  for  the  Glory  of  God  and  the  best  interests  of  the  Church, 

Peter  Brunnholtz, 
John  Fr.  Handschuh, 
John  Christoph.  Hartw^ig. 

H.  Muhlenberg  had  not  yet  arrived. 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  211 

VIII. 

Biographical  Sketch  of  John  Nic.  Kurtz. 

The  very  Reverend,  the  Pastors,  Peter  Brunnholtz,  Handschuh  and 
Hartwig,  have  given  me  the  following  nine  main  questions  with  their 
subordinate  points,  and  require  that  my  answers  should  be  laid  before 
them.  Accordingly,  with  the  help  of  God,  I  undertake  hereby,  to  an- 
swer them  briefly,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  and  as  far  as  time  will 
permit. 

I.  Ever  since  my  childhood,  my  dear  parents  strove  diligently  to 
bring  me  up  under  the  influence  of  prayer  and  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 
The  result  of  this  was,  that  I  abstained  from  indulging  in  gross  sins, 
and  associated  with  persons  of  genteel  and  respectable  character.  This 
w  as  specially  the  case  after  the  Lord  had  inclined  the  hearts  of  my 
parents  to  send  me,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  my  age,  to  the  psedagogium 
at  Giesen ;  for  then,  the  admonitions  of  my  father  and  mother  were 
regarded  with  sincere  obedience.  However,  for  about  four  or  five  years 
after  this,  my  heart  continued  to  be,  still,  under  the  influence  of  a 
slavish  fear,  until  I  paid  a  visit  to  my  brother,  a  schoolmaster,  who 
was  acquainted  with  that  worthy  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  Mr.  Ohly ; 
indeed,  I  may  say  that  he  stood  on  friendly  terms  with  him.  My 
brother  and  I  set  off"  in  company  to  visit  Mr.  Ohly.  It  happened  on  a 
Sunday,  the  very  day  on  which  he  confirmed  his  catechumens.  On 
this  occasion  he  set  forth  the  duties  of  parents,  sponsors,  and  indeed  all 
of  his  hearers,  towards  the  young  persons  wdiom  he  confirmed,  with 
great  force  and  effect;  then,  kneeling  down  with  the  catechumens  and 
all  the  congregation,  he  offered,  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  a  prayer  that 
was  so  childlike  and  so  confiding  that  my  heart  was  made  to  yield  at 
once,  and  became  tender,  and  my  tears  flowed  freely.  From  that  time 
I  felt  an  impulse  urging  me  to  be  more  earnest  and  resolute  in  serving 
the  Lord.  After  my  return  home,  and  at  the  end  of  the  vacation,  I 
went  back  to  school  again,  at  Giesen. 

There  were  several  very  worthy  people,  citizens  of  Giesen,  whom  the 
Lord  had  apprehended,  and  who  were  of  very  sincere  heart;  with  these 
persons  I  associated,  and  enjoyed  great  pleasure  in  their  fellowship. 
The  revilings  and  reproaches  of  my  fellow-students  were  thrown  in  my 
M^ay,  on  account  of  which  I  resorted  to  these  friends  only  at  night.  At 
these  meetings  we  w^ould  read  a  portion  of  the  Scripture ;  then  each 
one  \/ould  freely  state  what  had  particularly  impressed  his  own  mind ; 
then  a  verse  or  sentence  would  be  drawn  for  each  one  out  of  the  Schatz- 
Kastlein  of  Halle,  the  copy  of  which  belonged  to  me ;  then  we  would 
sing  a  verse,  after  which  we  all  went  home.  This  soon  was  noised 
abroad,  and  after  a  w^hile  there  was  public  excitement  about  it.  I  shall 
not  relate  here,  how  it  began  and  how  it  ended.  But,  for  this  reason, 
I  was  everywhere  regarded  as  a  Pietist,  and,  so  far,  I  was  not.  My 
reason  threw  great  obstacles  in  the  way ;  as  for  instance,  '  if  you  are 


212  APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION. 

treated  so  already,  how  will  it  be  if  you  should  come  so  far  as  to  be 
made  happy?'  (for  my  teachers  even  were  looking  askance  at  mej. 

Accordingly,  I  continued  to  be,  in  private,  a  follower  of  what  is  good. 
But  in  respect  to  this,  the  very  evening  on  which  the  tumult  broke  out, 
a  worthy  woman  gave  me  quite  a  sharp  reproof,  saying  to  me :  '  you 
are  willing  to  go  through  the  forms  of  piousness  with  other  people,  at 
night.'  This  inflicted  a  deep  wound,  like  a  dagger,  and  that  very 
evening  I  w^ent  to  my  lodgings,  and  upon  my  knees  prayed  to  God 
heartily,  to  deliver  me  from  the  fear  of  man  and  not  allow  me  to  be 
lukewarm  any  longer.  After  this  I  had  more  courage  in  asserting  my 
convictions. 

It  happened,  about  the  same  time,  that  that  useful  servant  of  God, 
Mr.  Fresenius,  was  called  to  Giesen,  as  pastor  of  the  Garris  .n  Church. 
He  rendered  valuable  service  to  awakened  souls.  In  company  with 
certain  friends,  I  visited  him  several  times,  and  he  encouraged  us  to 
press  on,  in  the  hope  of  becoming  partakers  of  the  Grace  of  God.  So 
far,  then,  as  a  young  man,  I  was  moral ;  but  before  God,  who  requires 
faith,  I  was  not  yet  right,  as  I  experienced  afterwards.  My  resorting 
to  Halle  was  the  occasion  of  bringing  me  to  this  better  experience. 
This  came  to  pass  as  follows:  After  I  had  been  studying  at  Giesen 
about  six  months,  my  dear  brother  Schaum  came  home  from  Halle,  on 
account  of  his  health,  after  he  had  been,  about  one  year,  pursuing  his 
studies  there.  My  father  was  informed  of  this,  and  as  my  brother  had 
long  been  trying  to  persuade  him  to  send  me  to  Halle,  and  Pastor  Ohly 
had  advised  it  likewise,  my  father  called  me  home,  and  informed  me 
of  the  arrival  of  the  brother,  with  the  request  that  I  should  accompany 
him  and  so  inform  myself  as  to  the  condition  of  affairs  at  Halle.  This 
was  done.  The  arrangement  was  completed  in  a  few  days,  because  Mr. 
Schaum  was  in  haste  to  set  out.  At  last,  Pastor  Ohly  and  another  stu- 
dent accompanied  me ;  for  circumstances  had  arisen  that  compelled  Mr. 
Sshaum  to  remain  at  home.  Here  I  found  the  Christian  life  altogether 
different.  Hire  God  opened  my  eyes  and  revealed  Himself  to  me,  in 
Jesus  Christ,  as  a  gracious,  loving  Father.  Here  I  enjoyed  fraternal 
intercourse  with  the  excellent  Fabricius  and  other  worthy  brethren, 
not  to  mention  the  beloved  professors.  All  these  commanded  my 
affectionate  regards ;  they  prayed  with  me ;  and  in  company  with  the 
beloved  Fabricius,  whenever  God  gave  us  time  and  opportunity,  I 
studied  through  the  system  of  Evangelical  doctrine,  as  drawn  up  by 
the  sainted  Spener.  O,  how  my  soul  desired  to  be  permitted  to  con- 
tinue on  in  the  enjoyment  of  such  life-giving  nourishment ;  but  it  was 
scarcely  for  nine  months  that  I  was  allowed  to  indulge  in  it.  Then  I 
had  to  break  off,  for  I  was  sent  over  to  this  western  world.  Yet,  what 
God  does  and  permits  ends  well ;  and  now  I  pray  to  my  Father,  in 
Christ,  Lord  deal  with  me  not  according  to  my  deserts ;  deliver  me 
from  wrath  and  be  gracious  to  me.  The  Lord  might  crush  me  as  a 
worm  ;  I  find  peace  in  submitting  to  His  Holy  Will ;  and  to  His  Grace 


APPENDIX    TO   SECOND    CONTINUATION.  213 

will  I  cling  until  I  die.  Lord  Jesus  help  me.  Amen !  In  Halle  I 
attended  the  lectures  of  Prof.  Baumgarten  on  dogmatics,  etc.,  for  six 
months ;  also,  the  lectures  of  the  same  professor  on  the  History  of  the 
Old  Testament,  for  three  months.  Further,  I  attended  the  catechetical 
lectures  of  Prof  Francke,  based  upon  the  Catechism  of  Spener.  Be- 
yond this  it  was  not  in  my  power  to  attend  any  regular  course  of  lectures. 

II.  As  it  had  been  my  purpose  to  return  to  my  fatherland  after  hav- 
ing studied,  for  a  limited  time,  at  Halle,  I  left  all  my  books  at  home, 
excepting  the  Holy  Bible.  I  was  prepared  to  furnish  myself  with  the 
necessary  books  at  Halle  ;  but  the  time  of  my  sojourn  there  being  very 
short,  as  indicated  above,  I  did  not  procure  many  books,  and,  in  fact, 
could  not.  My  books  are  very*  few  in  number,  and  among  them  are 
such  as  have  been  sent  over  by  our  Beverend  Father  Ziegenhagen.  In 
a  word,  the  Holy  Bible  is  my  book. 

III.  Theology  is — (from  the  several  answers  that  follow  we  select 
two,  viz.,  No.  IV  and  No.  VII.) 

IV.  Whether  our  Evangelical  Lutheran  doctrine  is  the  only  saving 
doctrine  ?  I  do  not  venture  to  say,  indeed  I  cannot,  that  those  persons 
who  do  not,  by  name,  adopt  the  Lutheran  Confession  will,  as  being 
without  the  doctrine,  be  lost.  (R.  I.,  Art.  X.)  But  that  our  Evangel- 
ical Lutheran  doctrine  is  the  only  justifying  and  saving  doctrine,  I  say 
yea,  and  Amen !  I  prove  it  in  this  way  :  (1)  where  the  Word  of  God 
is  taught,  pure  and  unadulterated,  (2)  and  we,  as  the  children  of  God, 
live  according  to  His  AVord.  Here  I  urge  the  proof  of  the  first  point : 
The  Word  of  God  is  taught  pure  and  unadulterated  among  us,  it  fol- 
lows, therefore,  that  our  doctrine  is  the  only  saving  doctrine.  I  prove 
my  first  point,  then,  as  follows:  The  doctrine  and  principles  or  articles 
of  doctrine  that  are  clearly  and  unquestionably  based  upon  the  Word  of 
God,  and  are  necessary  to  our  salvation,  these  doctrines  are  true,  and  the 
very  best.  But  the  fundamental  articles  of  the  Lutherans  are  clearly 
and  unquestionably  based  upon  the  Word  of  God  and  are  necessary  to 
salvation.  Consequently  they  must  be  true  and  the  very  best.  If  we 
take  up  our  S^imbolical  Books,  which  consist  of  the  prmciples  of  our 
doctrine  or  religion,  we  find  that  they  are  taken  from  the  Word  of  God 
and  are  proved  bv  Holy  Scripture.  The  passage.  Acts  4:  12,  "neither 
is  there  salvation^in  any  other,"  etc.,  is  one  of  our  strongholds;  the  ad- 
monition, "repent  and  belive  the  Gospel,"  is  another ;  the  same  is  true 
of  Chapt.  3  and  Chapt.  9  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans.  The  doctrine 
of  the  Person  and  Office  of  Christ,  crucified  for  us,  is  also  for  us  a  high 
tower  of  refuge  and  defence. 

VII.  Should  ministers  of  the  Gospel  be  subordinate  to  one  another  r 
and  if  so,  how  far  should  this  subordination  be  maintained  ?  I  shall 
answer  this  question  briefly,  bv  citations  from  the  Word  of  God.  God 
is  a  God  of  Order,  and  it  is  His  Will  that  everything  should  be  done 
decently  and  in  order ;  consequently,  that  order  should  be  maintained 
in  the  office  of  the  Ministry  of  the  Word.    Let  brotherly  love  contmue. 


214  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

In  love,  serve  one  another.  Christian  character  and  gifts  and  age 
should  ever  be  held  in  honor.  Whoever  has  been  endowed  with  the 
wisdom  that  .comes  from  Above  understands  this  well,  and  feels  nothing 
oppressive  in  the  weight  of  superior  authority.  As  occupying  a  sub- 
ordinate position  himself,  he  is  respectful,  humble  and  dutiful,  never 
regarding  the  authority  under  which  he  stands  as  a  burden  or  an  op- 
pression or  a  reproach.  If  other  persons  have  experienced  the  sancti- 
fication  of  the  Spirit,  are  distinguished  for  their  usefulness  and  eminent 
for  wisdom  in  counsel  and  in  action,  all  this  is,  to  him,  an  occasion  of 
great  joy.  In  Divine  Grace  there  is  nothing  domineering ;  it  is  alto- 
gether fraternal,  friendly,  hearty  and  without  guile.  The  3d  Chapter 
of  I.  Timothy  decides  the  matter.  So,  I  may  say  that  I  have  written 
enough  in  answer  to  the  question.  If  I  have  failed  I  shall  be  thankful 
to  be  corrected.  If  I  have  erred  in  any  particular,  I  desire  to  be  set 
right.     If  I  have  missed  the  mark,  I  hope  to  be  better  informed.  - 

In  this  writing  I  have  not  employed  technical  terms,  but  have  used 
plainness  of  speech,  as  God  has  enabled  me  to  do.  I  hope,  then,  that 
the  Reverend  Pastors  will  be  pleased  to  accept  it  kindly,  as  coming 
from  one  who  is  anxious  to  be  further  instructed,  and  most  sincerely 
acknowledges  his  deficiencies. 

Let  the  Name  of  the  Lord  be  great  in  all  nations,  and  the  riches  of 
His  compassion  be  acknowledged  by  all  people.     Amen. 


IX. 

To  the  reverend  and  learned,  the  associated  pastors  of  the  united 
Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia, 
Germantown,  Providence  and  New  Hanover,  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  Mr. 
Brunnholtz  and  Mr.  Handschuch,  our  honored  Pastors  and  reverend 
Fathers  in  Christ.* 

Ever  Reverend,  Learned  and  Most  Honored  Sirs : 

That  we,  the  subscribers,  all  being  officers  and  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation  at  Tulpehocken  and  vicinity,  in 
the  county  of  Lancaster  and  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  did,  in  a  peti- 
tion written  in  the  English  language  and  dated  July  8th,  1745,  and 
subscribed  by  divers  members  of  the  said  Evangelical  Lutheran  con- 
gregation at  Tulpehocken,  represent  to  the  reverend  College  of  Pastors 
of  the  united  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregations  in  Pennsylvania, 
specially  to  Pastor  Muhlenberg  and  Pastor  Brunnholtz,  and  at  the 
same  time  did  deeply  bewail  the  deplorable  condition  of  our  spiritual 
interests,  begging  them  in  fitting  terms  to  have  compassion. upon  our 
needy  souls,  to  take  us  as  part  of  their  pastoral  charge,  to  allow  us  also 
to  enjoy  their  spiritual  care,  in  short  to  become  our  pastors  and  to 
watch  over  us ;  further,  that  in  a  second  petition,  specific  in  its  details, 

^  This  has  an  important  bearing  upon  the  relation  which  the  individual  con- 
gregation and  its  pastor  sustained  to  the  pastoral  college. 


APPENDIX   TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  215 

and  written  in  the  German  language,  we  renewed  our  most  humble 
request ;  all  this  is  sufficiently  well  known  to  your  reverences.* 

We  acknowledge,  with  due  thanks  and  with  humble  praise  to  God, 
the  spiritual  care  which,  since  that  time,  we  have  enjoyed  on  the  part 
of  the  College  of  Pastors  of  the  united  congregations.  But  since  our 
congregation  has  been  increased  by  the  Divine  blessing  upon  your 
faithful  labors,  and  former  unhappy  ruptures  have  been,  in  a  measure, 
healed,  so  that  by  the  grace  of  God  we  are  able  and  willing  to  support 
our  own  pastor,  a  thing  which  our  own  necessities  demand,  therefore 
we,  the  aforesaid  subscribers,  the  united  officers  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  congregation  at  Tulpehocken,  for  ourselves  and  in  the  name 
of  our  congregation  do,  with  all  due  respect  and  sincerity,  beg  the 
honorable  and  reverend  College  of  Pastors  and  especially  the  reverend 
gentlemen  composing  it,  to  wit.  Pastor  Muhlenberg,  Pastor  Brunuholtz 
and  Pastor  Handschuch,  to  send  either  one  of  their  own  number,  or 
some  other  person  qualified  for  such  office,  duly  examined  and  ordained, 
and  fully  empowered  to  administer  all  the  acts  of  the  pastoral  office,  to 
be  the  regular  pastor  of  our  congregation  at  Tulpehocken,  and  to  act 
under  such  regulations  as  the  reverend  College  of  Pastors  may  be 
pleased  to  ordain.  In  all  this,  the  understanding  and  provision  re- 
mains fixed,  that  we,  together  with  the  united  congregations,  constitute 
one  entire  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation,  who  recognize  and  honor 
the  associated  pastors,  composing  the  College  of  Pastors  as  their  regular 
spiritual  guides,  and  as  such  our  own  immediate  pastor  stands  in  the 
closest  connection  with  them. 

As  we  have  good  grounds  to  hope  that  the  reverend  College  of  Pas- 
tors will  grant  this  our  reasonable  and  humble  petition,  we  venture,  in 
this  present  writing,  to  explain  at  length  our  reasons  for  applying  to 
your  reverend  college  to  send  us  a  teacher,  as  also  to  state  what  you 
may  justly  demand  at  our  hands.  With  this  view  then  we  shall  in  the 
first  i^lace  state  the  circumstances  that  have  led  us,  as  well  in  former 
times  as  at  present,  to  take  our  resort  to  your  reverend  college,  and 
then  we  shall  specify  the  chief  points  in  respect  to  which  we,  both  for 
ourselves  and  in  the  name  of  our  constituents,  are  bound  by  solemn 
obligations  to  your  reverend  college  and  to  the  pastor  whom  you  may 
appoint  for  us.  The  reasons  that  have  moved  us  to  apply  to  your 
reverend  college  in  regard  to  the  wants  of  our  souls,  and  to  beg  you  to 
take  care  of  our  spiritual  interests  are,  amongst  others,  chiefly,  the 
following. 

1.  Your  own  legitimate,  regular  and  consequently  Divine  call  to  the 
holy  office. 

2.  The  strong  testimonials  you  have  received  from  certain  Fathers 
and  public  teachers  of  our  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  Europe, 
who,  by  their  zeal  for  the  maintenance  of  the  evangelical  doctrine  ac- 
cording to  the  unaltered  Augsburg  Confession,  and  by  the  uprightness 

*  See  Muhlenberg's  Keport  No.  II  of  this  Continuation. 


216  APPENDIX   TO   SECOND   CONTINUATION. 

of  their  lives  in  harmony  with  the  same,  and  with  the  whole  Word  of 
God,  out  of  w^hich  said  Confession  is  taken,  have  been  shining  as  lights, 
throughout  the  Protestant  Church  for  many  years ;  and  specially  those 
which  you  have  from  the  University  of  Halle,  in  Saxony,  which  is  a 
city  set  upon  a  hill,  which  pours  light  out  upon  the  darkness,  and  has 
already  awakened  many  to  the  glory  of  God ;  concerning  which  our 
prayer  is,  that  the  Lord  may  continue  to  keep  it  open  as  a  source  of 
blessings,  defend  it  against  all  heresy,  make  it  a  home  where  true  doc- 
trine and  true  Godliness  shall  happily  dwell  together,  a  Divine  work- 
shop in  which  many  vessels  of  honor  shall  be  prepared  to  be  used  for 
the  glory  of  God,  for  the  edifying  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ,  for 
the  propagation  of  evangelical  truth,  and  for  the  eternal  salvation  of 
many  thousands  of  souls. 

3.  Your  firmness  in  maintaining  the  teaching  and  doctrine  of  the 
unaltered  Augsburg  Confession,  which,  in  this  country,  is  fiercely  at- 
tacked, sometimes  by  false  brethren,  sometimes  by  fanatical  sects,  some- 
times by  epicureans  and  divers  other  parties.  Against  all  such  attacks 
you  have  not  only  maintained  the  truth  for  youi-selves,  but  you  have 
also  strengthened  the  members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
therein,  gathered  them  and  increased  their  numbers.  Let  this  be  said 
to  the  praise  of  God  who  has  been  your  helper. 

^  4.  The  blessed  fruits  that  have  already  followed  your  official  labors ; 
since  so  many  have  been  brought  from  darkness  into  light  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God,  and  established  in  His  grace,  thereby. 

5.  Your  official  qualifications  and  prudence;  your  experience  and 
the  gentleness  with  which  you  accommodate  yourselves  to  the  peculiar 
circumstances  of  this  country. 

6.  Your  intimate  union  with  each  other,  which  encourages  us  to  hope, 
not  only  that  the  good  work  w^ill  be  begun,  but  also  that  it  will  be  per- 
petuated both  for  us  and  for  those  who  come  after  us. 

7.  The  official  fidelity  and  solicitude  which  you  exhibit,  not  only  in 
your  own  united  congregations,  but  also  in  divers  others  which,  from 
time  to  time,  have  appealed  to  you  for  help. 

These  facts,  among  others,  have  encouraged  us,  in  this  our  time  of 
need,  to  rely  upon  you  next  to  our  trust  in  God ;  and,  in  the  interests 
of  our  souls,  to  make  our  appeal  to  your  reverences.  In  view  of  all 
these  things  the  desire  has  grown  strong  in  us  to  be  incorporated,  to  be 
of  the  same  body,  with  the  united  congregations  in  Pennsylvania,  to  be 
received  and  acknowledged  by  them  as  brethren  and  members  of  a 
special  congregation  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and  conse- 
quently, entitled  to  participate  in  the  spiritual  care  of  the  reverend 
pastors  of  the  associated  congregations. 

Also,  we  do  hereby,  most  openly  and  in  the  most  solemn  way,  appeal 
to,  recognize  and  acknowledge,  the  reverend  pastors  of  the  united  con- 
gregations in  Pennsylvania  as  our  spiritual  guides  and  shepherds,  in- 
vesting them  with  full  authority  to  watch  for  our  souls  in  whatever 


APPENDIX    TO    SECOND    CONTINUATION.  217 

manner  they  may  see  fit,  and  by  whatever  agency,  and  for  as  long  time 
as  may  be  agreeable  to  them.  Further,  we  promise  to  recognize  the 
reverend  Collegium  Pastorum  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  congrega- 
tions in  Pennsylvania,  as  a  legitimate  and  regular  presbytery  and  min- 
isterium,  and  specially,  as  our  own  chief  pastors  and  spiritual  guides. 
We  pledge  ourselves  to  respect  and  esteem  them  as  such,  without  whose 
advice  and  approbation,  previously  obtained,  we  will  do  nothing,  or- 
dain, determine  and  change  nothing  in  any  matters  that  may  concern 
the  church.  Consequently,  we  will  have  an  arrangement  with  no 
preacher  whomsoever,  and  even  with  the  pastor  whom  they  may  send 
to  us,  we  will  undertake  to  do  nothing  in  any  of  the  important  affairs 
of  the  church,  without  having  first  obtained  their  advice  and  consent. 
On  the  other  hand,  whatever  the  united  reverend  Collegium  Pastorum 
may  determine,  in  respect  to  the  concerns  of  our  congregation,  giving 
us  due  and  adequate  information  thereof,  we  promise  to  approve  of,  to 
obey  and  to  execute  with  all  our  might. 

Further,  we  promise  to  recognize,  to  welcome,  to  respect,  to  honor, 
and  to  learn  of  the  pastor  whom  the  reverend  Collegium  Pastorum  may 
send  to  us  as  our  regular  teacher,  called  of  God,  so  long  as  it  may 
please  the  reverend  Collegium  Pastorum  to  permit  him  to  remain  with 
us ;  also,  to  make  no  resistance  in  case  they  should,  for  good  reasons, 
•call  him  away  and  send  us  another  in  his  place ;  but  rather  to  receive 
and  sustain  such  successor  and  follower  with  like  love  and  reverence. 
Again,  we  promise  that,  in  case,  which  may  God  forbid,  any  misunder- 
standing or  division  should  occur  between  the  members  of  the  congre- 
gation generally,  or  between  a  part  of  them  and  the  pastor,  or  among 
any  of  the  individual  members,  we  will,  at  once,  report  the  same  to  the 
reverend  Collegium  Pastorum,  humbly  seek  their  decision  of  the  mat- 
ter and  abide  by  the  same. 

Finally,  we  promise  to  pay  to  the  teacher  or  teachers  who  may  be 
sent  to  us,  a  salary  adequate  to  their  wants ;  to  bind  ourselves  in  writ- 
ing to  that  effect,  as  also  to  use  all  our  influence  so  that  the  congrega- 
gation  may  continue  regularly,  from  year  to  year,  to  supply  the  neces- 
sary wants  of  the  pastor. 

Hereto  we  subscribe  our  authentic  signatures,  both  for  ourselves  and 
in  the  name  of  our  congregation : 

Done  at  Philadelphia,  Aug.  13th,  1748. 


Adam  Loesch,  [  Church  Council  at  Tulpehocken. 

Balthasar  Anspach,  ' 


John  Nicholas  Schwingel, 
Adam  Loesc] 
Balthasar  A 
John  Immel, 

LUCK, 
DORF 

Andrew  Bayer,  Deacon  of  Northkill. 


Abraham  Lauck,     |  j^^^^^^^  ^^  Tulpehocken. 
Martin  Batdorf,  ^ 


INDEX. 


Appeal  for  help,  First,  14, 15 
Antichristian  influences,  26 
Anne,  Queen  of  England,  35 
Ardreffi,  139,  186 
Arbitration  at  Karitan,  N.  J.,  187 

Baptists  in  Philadelphia,  54,  67 
Berkenmeyer,  Rev.,  Letter  from,  201 
Bolzius  and  G-ronau,  44 
Brunnholtz,  Rev.  Peter,  32,  71 
Brunnholtz  arrives  in  Philadelphia,  107 
Brunnholtz  is  warmly  welcomed,  108 
Brunnholtz,  his  care  of  the  flock,  116 
Brunnholtz,  Letter  from,  121 
Brunnholtz,  Instructions  to,  125 
Brunnholtz  examined  for  ardination,  126 
Brunnholtz  is  ordained.  130 
Brunnholtz  reports  his  safe  arrival,  136 
Brunnholtz,  his  education  and  earlier 

history,  142 
Brunnholtz,  his  faithfulness,  154 

Catechists  (Heifer),  166 

Call  (Vocation)  Form  of,  123 

Call  (Vocation)  Form,  of  the  Catechists, 

132 
Catechism,  Small,  printed  by  Benjamin 

Franklin,  37 
Congregations,  the  oldest,  7 
Congregations,  Early  state  of,  13 
Congregations,  Growing,  1,  3,  156 
Congregations  at  Philadelphia,  159 
Church  building  undertaken,  28,  112, 

158 
Corner-stone  laid  in  Philadelphia,  30 
Consecration  of  Church  at  Providence, 

57 
Christ  Church    (Episcopal),  Philadel- 
phia, 52 
Contributions,  33,  71 
Chester,  Pa.,  162,  168 
DD.,  Degree  conferred  by  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  5 


Dippel,  J.  Conr.,  68 

Division  of  pastoral  labor,  150,  171 

Ebenezer,  Colony  in  Georgia,  19,  44 
Easton,  Pennsylvania,  168 

Fabricius,  Seb.  Andr.,  128 
Francke,  G.  Aug.,  38 
Francke  writes  to  D.  Weiseger,  85 
Francke  writes  to  Ziegenhagen,  88 
Francke  writes    to  the  Congregations, 

98,  140 
Francke  writes  to  von  Gensau,  120 
Francke  writes  to  Count  Stollberg,  122 
Freylinghausen,  G.  Anastasius,  9 
Funeral  Services,  157 
Formula  Juramenti  of  Brunnholtz,  127 

Germans,  Condition  of,  before  Muhlen- 
berg's arrival,  1 
"German  Society,"  The,  6,  11 
Germans  immigrate  to  Pennsylvania, 

13 
Germantown,  Pa.,  60,  165 
Germantown,  Church  in,  62,  64 
Germantown  Church  enlarged,  160 
"Gloria  Dei,"  Swedish  Church,  118 
Gordon,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  his 

endorsement,  80 
Gratitude  of  the  People,  153 

Hirelings,  2,  13 

Helmuth,  Rev.  Dr.,  Professor  in  the 

University  of  Pa.,  5 
"Hallesche    Nachrichten,"  how    first 

prepared  and  published,  9 
Help  coming  in  from  Europe,  16 
Hymn  Books  in  use,  37 

Kunze,  Prof.  Dr.,  5 
Kurtz,  Catechist,  33,  72 
Kraft,  Valentine,  58 
Knoll,  Pastor,  writes  to  Berkenmeyer, 
205 


(219) 


220 


INDEX. 


Kurtz's  solemn  obligation  given  to  the 

synod,  208 
Kurtz,  his  examination  and  ordination, 

209 
Kurtz,  biographical  sketch  of,  211 

Lutherans  in  the  Southern  Provinces, 

46 
Letter  of  the   three   congregations  to 

Prof.  Dr.  Francke,  85 
Letter   of  the   three   congregations   to 

Rev.  Dr.  Ziegenhagen,  101 
Letter,  joint,  of  the  fathers  of  Kurtz 

and  Schaum,  134 

Maquaischen  (Mohawk,  N.  Y.),  163 

Michael's,   St.,   church,    Philadelphia, 
64 

Michael's,  St.,  church,  corner  stone  and 
consecration  of,  65 

Menno  Simon,  67 

Muhlenberg,  H.  Melchior,  17,  40 

His  vovage  across  the  ocean,  18  \ 
Sails  from  Charleston,  S.  C.  20  | 
Takes   his  charge  in  Pliiladel- 

phia,  24  ! 

First  confirmations,  25  | 

Baptizes  three  negro  slaves,  57 
His  successful  labors,  109 
His  trials,  110,  139 
His  self  denial,  115 
Opposes  emotionalism,  167 
His   letter   after   the  arrival  of 

his  "  helpers,"  170 
His  report  to  Halle,  172 
His  account  of  his  marriage,  177 
Moves  into  the  country,  179 

New  congregations  organized  and  im-   | 
plore  help,  161  ! 

Neuberg,  preacher  at  Lancaster,  186 

"  Overseers  of  the  Poor,"  6 
Ordination,  First  Lutheran,  in  Amer- 
ica, 55 
Ordination  irregular,  etc.,  74 

Pastors,  earliest,  list  of,  2,  3 

PfeifFer,  Prof.  J.  G.,  38 

Penn,  William,  34,  51  ' 

Philadelphia,  condition  of,  in  1682  and 

onward,  51 
Philadelphia,  First  Church  in,  22 
Pastorius,  F.  Daniel,  60 
Plenipotentiary  Document,  82 


Postills,  119 

Preaching,  Mode  of,  150 
Providence,  (Trappe)  56,  61 

Royal  Family  of  England,  German  ele- 
ment in,  35 

Roman  Catholics  in  Philadelphia,  54 

Raritan,  N.  J.,  trouble  in  congregation, 
180 

Raritan,  arbitration  at,  182 

Salzburgers,  43 

Bauer's  German  Bible,  37 

Schultze,  commissioner  from  the  three 

congregations,  7. 
Schaum,  Catechist,  33,  71 
Schoolmaster,  Duties  of,  62 
Steeples  and  bells  on  churches,  70 
Steeple  taken  down,  69 
Sterling  money,  69 
Students  of  theology,  3 
Schwarzwald,  162 
Slavery  in  Pennsylvania,  167 
Slavery  denounced  by  German  Quakers, 

167 

Tulpehocken  congregation  uddress  the 
Synod,  214 

University  of  Pennslvania,  Origin  of, 

4,  5,  10 
Urlsperger,  Rev.  Senior,  Samuel,  39,  43 
Urlsperger,  Rev.  Senior,  Samuel,  Letter 

from,  98 
Union  churches,  168 

Visiting  the  sick,  etc.,  151 
Vigera,  Mr.  A.,  Teacher,  152,  166 
Week-day  Services,  151 
Weinland,  Rev.  J.,  Jr.,  3,  10 
Weisiger,  Commissioner  to  Europe,  7,  8 
Weisiger,  his  "  Short  Account,"  75 
Weiser,  Conrad,  177 
Word  of  God,  Longed  for,  12 
Whitefield  and  the  Methodists,  52 
Wolf,  Magister,  180 

Ziegenhagen,  Rev.  F.  M.,  14,  36 
Ziegenhagen,  Rev.  F.  M.,  pleads  for  the 

Congregations,  77 
Ziegenhagen,  Rev.  F.  M.,  writes  to  the 

three  congregations,  145 
Zinzendorf,  Count,  23,  50 
Zion  Church  in  Philadelphia,  66 


